Ghitta Carell, the Photoshop of the 1930s, in show at Villa Necchi

A new exhibition at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, organized by FAI, explores the work of photographer Ghitta Carell, a pioneer of photo retouching before digital tools. Carell, born Margit Klein in Hungary, became the most sought-after portraitist in 1930s Italy, capturing royalty, intellectuals, and fascist figures including Mussolini. After racial laws disrupted her career, she rebuilt her practice post-war. The show features never-before-exhibited objects, photos, and documents that highlight her technique and personal ties to the Necchi sisters, Nedda and Gigina, and architect Piero Portaluppi. A room displays her large-format Piseroni camera and a retouching lectern, as recommended by Rodolfo Namias in 1921. Using a scraper, graphite pencil, and mattoleina (a substance for adhering color to negatives), Carell could make subjects appear slimmer—prefiguring Photoshop. The attic houses a darkroom with portraits of 20th-century figures, including Princess Maria José, Gio Ponti, and art historian Roberto Longhi. The exhibition runs through an unspecified date.