Descripción de las fotografías de la exposición "El Testigo" de Jesús Abad Colorado

Abstract

The monograph analyzes the importance of the documentary description of the photographs from El Testigo exhibition by Jesús Abad Colorado as a means to understand and reconstruct the collective memories of the Colombian armed conflict. The main objective was to describe a set of images captured between 1995 and 2005 by the photojournalist, framed within the mentioned exhibition. The research, with a qualitative and descriptive approach, was based on theoretical references such as Sontag, Barthes, Heredia, Mundet, and Halbwachs, and employed documentary research supported by analysis techniques and description records. The results show that the description of documentary photographs makes it possible to reveal stories of resistance, pain, and dignity among communities affected by the conflict, highlighting Abad Colorado’s role as a visual narrator and agent of memory. In conclusion, documentary description not only facilitates access to history but also constitutes a key tool for building collective memory and promoting social reconciliation