Ghitta Carell: The Photographer Who Captured Mussolini and High Society

From May to October 2025, Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan will host a significant retrospective showcasing Ghitta Carell (originally Margaret Klein, 1899–1972), a Hungarian Jewish photographer celebrated for her portraits of Italy's high society during the 1930s, such as Benito Mussolini and King Vittorio Emanuele III. Carell moved to Florence in 1924, charging 2,000 lire for each portrait while providing complimentary sessions to prominent individuals. Her artistic approach blended photography with painting, drawing inspiration from Renaissance art. The imposition of the 1938 Racial Laws forced her into seclusion, leading to the decline of her career. After World War II, she resumed her work, capturing Pope John XXIII in 1960. The exhibition will also feature a book curated by Roberto Dulio and Maria Sica, containing photographs and documents.