Photographer Chiara Samugheo dies at 86

Chiara Samugheo, born in Bari in 1935 as Paparella, has died at 86. She moved to Milan in 1953, learning photography under Federico Patellani. She adopted the surname Samugheo after a town in Barbagia. Her partner was Pasquale Prunas, founder of the cultural magazine Sud. In 1955, Cinema Nuovo, directed by Guido Aristarco, published her photo reportage on tarantism in Salento, titled 'Le invasate', with text by Emilio Tadini. Samugheo is known for her social documentary work in Southern Italy—tarantism, Neapolitan shantytowns, imprisoned Romani women—and later in the United States, focusing on marginalized communities. She also photographed film stars, aiming to restore real femininity and personality to their objectified bodies. Her work was included in the last edition of the Biennale Donna in Ferrara, curated by Angela Madesani.