Mario Giacomelli's 'Perchè' at Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès

Annabelle Gugnon fictively purchases Mario Giacomelli's photograph 'Perchè' (c. 1960) for artpress's 'panier' feature. The work is exhibited at Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès in Paris as part of Photo Saint-Germain, running from November 5 to December 14, 2019. Giacomelli, known for his black ink and snow photographs, was collected by MoMA as early as 1973. 'Perchè' was taken in Lourdes, not in his usual Senigallia, where he accompanied his disabled child. The image blends photography with painterly qualities, influenced by Antoni Tàpies and Alberto Burri. Giacomelli used inventive darkroom techniques and listened to poetry while printing. On the verso, he wrote a poem including the line: 'Find hope where there is pain.' The print measures 32 x 38.8 cm and is priced around €13,000.