Federica Muzzarelli on Feminism in Photography Past and Present

Federica Muzzarelli, Professor of History and Ideas of Photography at the University of Bologna and coordinator of the prestigious Research Center Photography Art Feminism, has published a new book titled "Fotografia e femminismi fra '800 e '900" (Edizione Pearson). In an interview, she discussed how photography has served as a medium for women to express autobiographical needs and construct deep narratives of their existence, often reacting to their marginalized social and cultural roles. Many works by these female photographers have later been reinterpreted through a feminist lens, even if not originally intended. Notable examples include Lady Virginia Oldoini, the Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899), whose performative photographic series functioned as a fictionalized biography, anticipating later themes. Victorian ladies, excluded from art education and social roles, used photography for identity and performative storytelling, exploring exhibitionism, gender fluidity, and political ideology. Muzzarelli aims to rewrite a new history of photography that accounts for these important figures, emphasizing that discussing feminisms today is crucial for giving voice to past and present stories that redefine cultural and identity boundaries through the universal power of images.