9/11: An Image That Needs No Caption

As Le Temps commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Journal de Genève, its predecessor, the newspaper is revisiting significant front pages that have defined its legacy. A key focus is on the power of photo selection and its role in shaping the publication's identity.

The newspaper emphasizes how the construction of a page, the accompanying headline, and graphic design contribute to a cover image's impact. When an event is exceptional, a striking photograph can become etched in collective memory.

One such image highlighted is from the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The photograph of one of the World Trade Center towers after being struck by a plane is described as so iconic that it needs no caption. The article suggests that for those who lived through that day, the image alone is a powerful reminder.

This feature is part of a larger special dossier in Le Temps dedicated to the 9/11 attacks, reflecting on their significance as a marker of the 21st century. The article notes that the event, marked by four suicide attacks by the jihadist network Al-Qaeda, has been extensively covered by the newspaper since it occurred.

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The photograph of one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center after the explosion of the plane that hit it in New York is already so 'iconic' that it doesn't even need a caption.