Mario Giacomelli was undoubtedly one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, whose extraordinary poetic photographs display a profound understanding of the photographer´s country and its people. He achieved international recognition during his lifetime winning numerous medals and prizes.
Born to a very poor Italian family, Giacomelli believed “it was a good fortune to be born poor.” He stated: “The making of art has nothing at all to do with knowledge, education, technique, style, concept, process, the judgement of others, your age or your background. The single most important attribute to art, all art literature, music, cinema, photography is to make people feel.”
He rarely ventured beyond his hometown and later died there. Giacomelli resisted any motivations for creating his images that did not originate from deep inside his own psyche.
His work is a testament to his highly personal, striking and artistically atmospheric visual style, demonstrating his life-long preoccupation with landscapes, rural townscapes, streetscapes, still lifes, and portraits of everyday Italian life.
Giacomelli defied conventions and developed his own personal, unmistakable vision, while further defining the breath and language of photography in a manner that few, even did.
Mario Giacomelli was undoubtedly one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, whose extraordinary poetic photographs display a profound understanding of the photographer´s country and its people. He achieved international recognition during his lifetime winning numerous medals and prizes.
Born to a very poor Italian family, Giacomelli believed “it was a good fortune to be born poor.” He stated: “The making of art has nothing at all to do with knowledge, education, technique, style, concept, process, the judgement of others, your age or your background. The single most important attribute to art, all art literature, music, cinema, photography is to make people feel.”
He rarely ventured beyond his hometown and later died there. Giacomelli resisted any motivations for creating his images that did not originate from deep inside his own psyche.
His work is a testament to his highly personal, striking and artistically atmospheric visual style, demonstrating his life-long preoccupation with landscapes, rural townscapes, streetscapes, still lifes, and portraits of everyday Italian life.
Giacomelli defied conventions and developed his own personal, unmistakable vision, while further defining the breath and language of photography in a manner that few, even did.