In Aosta, an exhibition on fashion photography made by women, from the 1900s to the present day

Until September 22, 2024, the Saint - Bénin Center in Aosta is hosting Glimpses of Understanding. Fashion Photographed by Women, the first institutional exhibition in Italy intended to be a survey of fashion photography made by women, featuring some of the most important Italian and international fashion photographers from the 20th century to the present. Curated by Angela Madesani, the exhibition aims to offer a journey through the history of fashion photography, with a special focus on the contribution of women in this field. Organized in several sections, the exhibition begins with an analysis of women’s work behind fashion, presenting images from the 1960s and 1970s that highlight the importance of women in the production of textiles and clothing. These photographs, often published in politically engaged magazines, are the work of female photographers such as Liliana Barchiesi, Gabriella Mercadini, Livia Sismondi, Elsa Robiola, and Lori Sammartino, who used their art to investigate and expose women’s working conditions.

The second section celebrates the pioneers of fashion photography, such as Louise Dahl-Wolf, famous for her Harper’s Bazaar covers, and other twentieth-century icons such as Lee Miller and Lillian Bassman. These women contributed significantly to defining the fashion aesthetic through their unique and innovative vision.

The third section focuses on female photographers who have worked in fashion from the 1960s to the present day, including Alice Springs, Elisabetta Catalano, and Maria Vittoria Backhaus. This part of the exhibition demonstrates how fashion photography has been influenced and enriched by the creative input of these women artists.

The fourth section explores contemporary fashion photography, with works by Ellen von Unwerth, Brigitte Niedermair, Julia Hetta, Maripol, Ilaria Orsini, Lucia Giacani, and the younger Angelica Cantù Rajnoldi and Veronique Mazzoli, originally from Valle d’Aosta. These female photographers continue to push the boundaries of fashion, creating images that reflect modern trends and sensibilities.

Finally, the exhibition devotes a section to female artists who have used fashion as a medium for their artistic research. These include Florence Henri, Irina Ionesco, Vanessa Beecroft and Viviane Sassen, whose work, with its mysterious and innovative touch, has redefined the relationship between art and fashion, gaining international recognition.

In the exhibition, the materials on display are almost all vintage (about 80 percent of the works are originals).

Produced by Nomos Edizioni, the exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual (Italian - French) catalog with reproductions of the works and critical texts by Angela Madesani and Daria Jorioz.

For info: https://www.regione.vda.it/

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.

In Aosta, an exhibition on fashion photography made by women, from the 1900s to the present day

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.