Mario Dondero: The Photographer Who Captured the 20th Century

Mario Dondero, a Genoese photographer and war reporter, died on December 13, 2015, in Fermo at age 87. He spent his life documenting symbolic events and decisive moments, including the iconic 1959 portrait of Nouveau Roman writers in Paris and a 1962 photograph of an Algerian wall with the slogan "L'avenir appartient à la jeunesse" after independence. Dondero photographed intellectuals, political leaders, artists, and ordinary people amid wars, labor struggles, and protests. He published in major Italian and European newspapers and was known for his commitment to humanitarian causes, including work in Afghanistan and with Emergency. His career was defined by his Leica camera and a focus on humanist, independent, and close-up storytelling.