New Book Analyzes Photographic Propaganda in Mussolini's Fascist Regime

Alessandra Antola Swan's 2026 book 'Fotografare Mussolini. La costruzione di un'icona politica' examines how photographic images were used in fascist propaganda to build the cult of Mussolini's body, independent of textual rhetoric. The work highlights the pervasive presence of Mussolini's image in 1929 Italy, as noted by French journalist Henri Beraud, who observed his omnipresence in newspapers, shops, and public spaces, surpassing even Kemal in Turkey and Lenin in Moscow. Published by Meltemi, the essay builds on Marco Belpoliti's 2009 book 'Il corpo del capo' from Guanda, focusing on the power of photography in political iconography. The analysis underscores the regime's strategic use of visual media to reinforce Mussolini's leadership cult during the fascist era.