An Intimate Portrait of Women in the IDF
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Rachel Papo is an Israeli fine art photographer known for intimate portraits of women in the military. Having served as an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldier fifteen years ago, Rachel took a step back into the life of an eighteen-year-old Israeli girl to document the rigorous and demanding life of a female combat soldier. The result is a touching photo series entitled, Serial No. 3817131.
Israel is one of the few countries with compulsory military service for women, and one of the only countries that allows women in infantry combatant service if they volunteer.
What I appreciate most about Rachel’s work is the level of intimacy she achieved with her subjects. She’s not making a political statement with her photographs; rather, she is telling her own life story of the realities and paradoxes of modern Israeli life. For many of these girls, their life is interrupted and immersed in a masculine world of discipline, rigor, and the suspension of identity.
Rachel’s full photo series, bio, and artist statement can be found on her project Web site www.serialno3817131.com. All images copyright Rachel Papo.
