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Article created by: Viktorija Strelciunaite

The 20th century was a tumultuous, revolutionary era, and for the first time in human history, its story was captured not just in words, but on film. These 46 images have become historical artefacts in their own right, after searing themselves into our collective memory. They transport us from the corridors of power where Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin redrew the world map, to the dusty fields of California where a migrant mother’s face became the symbol of a national struggle. In these frames, we witness humanity's greatest triumphs, like the first tentative flight at Kitty Hawk and the giant leap onto the moon, alongside its deepest shames; from the grim faces of child laborers to the ugly jeers of a hateful mob. Each picture is a pivotal moment, a turning point that shaped the world we inhabit today.

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#1

Earthrise, The Moon, 24 December 1968

View of Earth rising over the moon's surface, one of the most important images illustrating 20th century triumph and tragedy.

NASA/Bill Anders Report

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    First Cell-Phone Picture - Taken By The Inventor Of The First Camera Phone, After His Daughter Sophie's Birth With The First Camera Phone Solution, Protomms, Santa Cruz, California, United States, June 11th, 1997

    Newborn baby sleeping peacefully wrapped in a blanket, symbolizing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Philippe Kahn Report

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    #3

    A Sea Of Steps, Wells Cathedral, England, United Kingdom, 1903

    Worn stone staircase inside historic architecture, showcasing structural details and lighting in a timeless setting.

    Frederick H. Evans Report

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    #4

    First Color Photos Autochrome Lumiere Auguste Louis, Hot Air Balloons, Paris, France,1914

    Early 20th century exhibition hall with large balloons and vintage airplanes showcasing important historical achievements.

    Lumiere Auguste Louis Report

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    #5

    A Little Spinner In The Mollohan Mills, South Carolina, United States, 1908

    Young girl working in a crowded 20th century textile mill, illustrating the triumph and tragedy of industrial labor.

    Lewis W. Hine Report

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    #6

    Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt And Josef Stalin, Yalta Conference, Crimea, February 1945

    Wartime leaders seated together during a key 20th century moment representing triumph and tragedy in history.

    U. S. Signal Corps Report

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    2WheelTravlr
    2WheelTravlr
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The exhaustion in FDRs face and those emaciated legs hidden under expensive trousers. Really brings home how much his massive willpower overcame his physical limitations.

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    #7

    American Gothic, Washington, D.C., United States, 1942

    African American woman holding a broom standing in front of an American flag, symbolizing 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Gordon Parks Report

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    2WheelTravlr
    2WheelTravlr
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From Wikipedia: American Gothic is a photograph of Ella Watson, an American charwoman, taken by the photographer Gordon Parks in 1942. It is a reimagining of the 1930 painting American Gothic by Grant Wood.

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    #8

    The Pond Moonlight, Mamaroneck, New York, United States, 1904

    Dark forest silhouette reflected on calm water at dusk, capturing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Edward Steichen Report

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    #9

    Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Grand Prix Of The Automobile Club Of France, Course At Dieppe, Dieppe, France, 1912

    Vintage racing car with driver in protective gear speeding by blurred spectators, capturing 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Jacques-Henri Lartigue Report

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    #10

    Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, New York City, United States, 1913

    Black and white portrait of a woman in 20th century attire showcasing the triumph and tragedy era in history.

    Adolph de Meyer Report

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    #11

    Armco Steel, Weston Middletown, Ohio, United States, 1922

    Black and white image of industrial smokestacks and large pipes highlighting 20th century industrial development.

    Edward Weston Report

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    #12

    Leap Into Freedom, Berlin, Germany, 15 August 1961

    Black and white photo of a soldier jumping barbed wire, symbolizing key moments in 20th century history and conflict.

    Peter Leibing Report

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    #13

    Buzz Aldrin On The Moon, Sea Of Tranquility, The Moon, 20 July 1969

    Astronaut standing on the moon's surface with footprints and lunar module parts, representing 20th century achievements.

    NASA/Neil A. Armstrong Report

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    #14

    Student Elizabeth Eckford Is Jeered By Student Hazel Bryan As She Attempts To Enter Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 1957

    Black and white photo showing a tense crowd walking with a determined African American woman holding books in the 20th century.

    Will Counts Report

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    #15

    Passport Photo Anne Frank, Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 1939

    Black and white portrait of a young girl from the 20th century reflecting triumph and tragedy in history.

    Photo Collection Anne Frank House Report

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    #16

    Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima, Iwo Jima, Japan, 23 February 1945

    US soldiers raising the American flag on a battlefield hilltop, a symbol of 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Joe Rosenthal Report

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    #17

    First Colour Image From Viking Lander 1 Of Mars, Chryse Planitia, Mars, 21 July 1976

    Rocky barren landscape under an orange sky representing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century important images.

    NASA/Viking 1 Report

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    #18

    The Steerage, Aboard The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, Possibly Anchored At Plymouth, England, United Kingdom, 1907

    Early 20th century immigrants aboard a ship, capturing a significant moment of triumph and tragedy history.

    Alfred Stieglitz Report

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    #19

    The Pastry Cook, Cologne, Germany, 1928

    Black and white image of a chef in a white coat holding a large pot in a kitchen, representing 20th century history.

    August Sander Report

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    #20

    Lyndon B. Johnson Taking The Oath Of Office, Dallas, Texas, United States, November 1963

    Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office aboard Air Force One, a key moment in 20th century history images.

    Cecil W. Stoughton Report

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    #21

    Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, United States, 1936

    Depressed mother with her two children in worn clothing, capturing the tragedy of the 20th century during hard times.

    Dorothea Lange Report

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    #22

    Sir Winston Churchill, Ottawa, Canada, 1941

    Black and white portrait of a serious man in a suit, representing triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Yousuf Karsh Report

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    #23

    The Flatiron, New York City, United States, 1904

    Dark cityscape with bare trees and a silhouette of a person, capturing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Edward Steichen Report

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    2WheelTravlr
    2WheelTravlr
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From Wikipedia: The Flatiron is a colored photograph made by Luxembourgish American photographer Edward Steichen. The photograph depicts the recently erected Flatiron Building in New York... The original negative was made in 1904 and spawned three platinum-gum exhibition prints in brown (1905), blue-green (1909), and yellow-green-black. Using different proportions of pigments in each gum process, Steichen was able to create these three unique platinum-gum prints.[1]: 187–188  The photograph's most notable variant is the blue-green version, which, according to Penelope Niven, became "widely reproduced from 1909 onward" because of its intense color contrasts.[1]: 187  The significance of the prints as a whole comes from how they showcase what Niven refers to as the "artistic potential" of photography.

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    #24

    Breaker Boys, Pittston, Pennsylvania, United States, 1911

    Group of child laborers in early 20th century, highlighting the tragedy and social issues of the era.

    Lewis Hine Report

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    #25

    The Vanishing Race, Nevada, Arizona, United States, 1904

    Silhouettes of riders on horses traveling through a dimly lit landscape, capturing a moment of 20th century history.

    Smithsonian Institution Report

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    #26

    Girl With A Mirror, New York City, United States, 1912

    Woman in vintage dress holding an object by an open window in a dimly lit room, reflecting 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Clarence H. White Report

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    #27

    Woman Of Tehuantepec, Tehuantepec, Mexico, 1929

    Young woman balancing a large decorated bowl on her head, capturing a moment of 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Tina Modotti Report

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    #28

    Guerrillero Heroico - Che Guevara, Havana, Cuba, 5 March 1960

    Iconic black and white portrait of a revolutionary figure wearing a beret with a star, symbolizing 20th century history.

    Alberto Korda Report

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    #29

    President Richard Nixon Using Chopsticks During A Chinese Banquet With Premier Chou En-Lai Of The People's Republic Of China, Beijing, China, 26 February 1972

    Historic 20th century leaders sharing a formal meal, symbolizing diplomacy and significant moments of triumph and tragedy.

    Oliver F. Atkins Report

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    #30

    First Flight, 120 Feet In 12 Seconds, 10:35 A.m., Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, North Carolina, United States, 1903

    Early 20th century historic flight with the Wright brothers' first powered airplane taking off on a barren field.

    John T. Daniels Report

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    #31

    Fire Caused By An Earthquake, 18 April, San Francisco, California, United States, 1906

    Crowd watching thick smoke rising over city during a historic 20th century tragedy, capturing triumph and tragedy moments.

    Arnold Genthe Report

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    #32

    Monolith, The Face Of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1927

    Black and white dramatic cliff face with snow-covered mountains, representing triumph and tragedy in 20th century images.

    Ansel Adams Report

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    #33

    The Tetons And The Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States, 1942

    Black and white landscape of dramatic mountains and winding river, capturing a triumph and tragedy of the 20th century moment.

    Ansel Adams Report

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    #34

    Kissing The War Goodbye, New York City, United States, 14 August 1945

    A sailor kissing a nurse in the street, capturing a historic moment of triumph and tragedy in the 20th century.

    Victor Jorgensen Report

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    #35

    Albert Einstein Sticks His Tongue, New York City, United States, 1951

    Black and white photo of Albert Einstein playfully sticking out his tongue, a triumph and tragedy 20th century image.

    Arthur Sasse Report

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    #36

    Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong Swimming In The Yangtze River In Wuhan, China, 1966

    Five men partially submerged in water, representing a powerful and iconic 20th century image with symbolic significance.

    Hou Bo Report

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    #37

    Taking Hold Of The Camera At The South Pole, Antarctica, 14th December, 1911

    Two explorers in snowy terrain beside a Norwegian flag, capturing a moment of 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    National Library of Australia Commons Report

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    #38

    Babe Ruth Bows Out, New York City, United States, 13 June 1948

    Baseball player standing on the field during a historic game, capturing a moment of triumph and tragedy in the 20th century.

    Nathaniel Fein Report

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    #39

    An Oasis In The Badlands, South Dakota, United States, 1905

    Native American in traditional dress riding a white horse drinking water in a grassland, a significant 20th century image.

    Museum of Photographic Arts Collections Report

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    #40

    Cousin “Bichonnade” In Flight, Paris, France, 1905

    Black and white historic photo of a woman in period dress descending outdoor steps, representing 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Jacques-Henri Lartigue Report

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    #41

    Blind Woman, New York City, United States, 1916

    Black and white portrait of a blind woman wearing a headscarf, illustrating triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Paul Strand Report

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    #42

    Charles Lindbergh Arrived At Croydon Field, Surrey, England, 29 May 1927

    Crowd gathered around the NX-211 airplane, a historic moment capturing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    Pacific and Atlantic photos inc. Report

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    #43

    German Trenches Near Reims, France, 1917

    Aerial view of 20th century World War I trenches and battle lines showing the impact of warfare on the landscape.

    Julien Bryan Report

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    #44

    Nasa, Explorer VI Satellite, 17000 Miles Above Mexico, 14 August 1959

    Abstract blurred white streaks of light against a dark background representing the triumph and tragedy of the 20th century.

    NASA, Explorer VI satellite Report

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    #45

    Abstraction, Porch Shadows, Salisbury, Connecticut, United States, 1916

    Abstract vintage photo of light and shadow patterns on a curved wooden surface, highlighting 20th century triumph and tragedy.

    Paul Strand Report

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    #46

    Elvis Meets Nixon, Washington, D.C., United States, 21 December 1970

    Historic 20th century moment showing a famous political leader shaking hands with a cultural icon in an official setting.




    Oliver F. Atkins Report

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