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Fondazione Palazzo Ducale Genova
6 May – 18 July 2021
An intense account of the history, lifestyle and culture of Italy since WWII is told through the eyes of the photographers of Magnum Photos – the most important photo agency in the world. Starting with a tribute to its three founders (Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and David Seymour) and their trips to Italy, the exhibition moves on to a chronological overview of images, through a fascinating intertwining of famous and lesser-known photographs; world-famous places and local, ordinary people; and protagonists of Italian social, political and cultural events since the aftermath of WWII up to the present. The exhibition starts at the meeting point between the artistic vocation and reportage, typical of the first half of the 20th century, a journey that not only recalls a polyhedric portrait of Italy and of Italian quintessence, but also speaks of a fundamental chapter in the history of photography itself. It is an attempt to – partially – order the Italian memory through small and big events, special or contingent moments. It is an attempt to read both the history and the present to try to interpret the complex physiognomy of contemporaneity.
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos was born in 1947 in New York: there, on MoMA’s terrace, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Seymour, George Rodger and William Vandivert officialised its founding.
From the very beginning, the fundamental principles of the cooperative agency were the safeguard of copyright and the respect for creativity. For the first time, negatives remained the property of the photographers, safe from abuses of power by art and newspaper directors.
Photographers found a new freedom to act according to their personal styles and interests and saw their authorship being encouraged. Magnum achieved rapid success thanks to these fundamental principles, and in a few years, welcomed numerous and important names in the world of photography.
Since its founding, 92 photographers have contributed to the history of Magnum, and today 49 members carry on its original values, protecting the rights of photojournalists and guaranteeing respect and honesty towards its audience.
Opening
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2:30-7:30 pm
Friday 2:30-9 pm / Saturday and Sunday 11 am-19 pm
Monday closed. Last admission one hour before closing.
Tickets
Full ticket 10€
Reduced ticket 8€
Tickets can be purchased online, at vivaticket.it and at the box office at Palazzo Ducale.