Lives Matter, photographs by Erbs Jr.

The collection consists of black-and-white photographs taken by photojournalist and historian Carlos Erbs Jr. The images, most of which were published in a book in 2021, capture different moments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, driven by the author’s realization that he was witnessing a historic event that needed to be documented for posterity.

Since the start of the pandemic, Erbs Jr. has followed the activity on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, documenting the impacts of social distancing measures, the actions of government agencies and civil society organizations, acts of solidarity, the strain experienced by frontline workers, the scientific race to develop testing protocols, and the start of vaccination. The photographer also documented the activities of protest movements, as well as the presence of denialist groups.

This is a comprehensive collection that highlights the complex social, political, and human dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Carlos Erbs Jr.’s photojournalism project—the largest of his career to date—began with his coverage of the closing ceremony of the Workshop on Detection and Diagnosis of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), held at Fiocruz in Rio de Janeiro, on February 7, 2020. From that moment on, the photographer began closely following global developments surrounding COVID-19.

However, the project that has consumed much of his professional energy began on March 13, 2020, when Erbs Jr. headed to Tom Jobim International Airport, already aware of the moment of great significance he was witnessing. At that time, restrictions on international flights were taking effect to contain the spread of the virus. Torn between bewilderment and the urgency to document the event, the photographer began to capture the dynamics and actions of the various actors involved in that context.

As a photographer and journalist, Erbs Jr. became deeply involved in covering the pandemic in Rio de Janeiro and faced countless challenges. He witnessed the panic, the losses, the neglect, the inequality, and the anxieties experienced by a professional group that recorded, in the country, one of the highest mortality rates in the world. He experienced, lived through, and documented the emptiness of death and appeals to the divine.

Carrying out this work required strict precautions due to the risk of infection and transmission of the virus, as well as sensitivity and tact, since, in most cases, it involved covering dramatic situations in the lives of the people portrayed. The intensity of the experience demanded breaks and moments of respite, such as alternating workdays, as a way to cope with the emotional impact caused by the scenes captured.

At the same time, Erbs Jr. documented various solidarity initiatives and collective actions, such as the Dona Marta Movement against COVID-19; the efforts of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) in conducting mass testing in the Complexo do Alemão; the work of early childhood educator Ana Bloch with children from Morro do Salgueiro, through educational activities at the community library; and the use of samba schools as testing and vaccination sites, among many other initiatives. He also followed and documented the peak and turning point in the history of the coronavirus in Brazil, with scientific advances and the start of vaccination.

Carlos Erbs Jr.’s photographs document both daily life and events related to the pandemic, while also serving as essential records for reflecting on Brazilian social dynamics. The images result from attentive and continuous observation of a historical period marked by profound disruptions in daily life, urban space, and human relations.

Browsing this collection allows us not only to recall a recent time of loss and uncertainty but also to reflect on the marks left by the pandemic on the city and society. The images gathered here constitute an exercise in collective memory, in which photography serves as a record, a denunciation, and an opportunity to process lived experience.