They're photographs that tell the history of the contemporary world since 1947, the best images by the legendary Magnum Photos. For the first time, the photographer became the owner of his or her photos and the things he or she wished to shoot.
ALESSANDRA MAURO
Commissioner, Magnum Manifiesto
“This marked a giant change in the way of thinking about photography up to that point. Photographers until then were on salary and gave their photographs to those who had requested them. However, the idea of Robert Capa, who promoted the agency, was for the photographer to be the owner of the work he or she did.”
In that way, the photographer rose to the category of artist. Robert Capa began this endeavor that was joined by various photographers who had a particular view of reality. They were building an historic business that marked a turning point in the way of capturing the present.
ALESSANDRA MAURO
Commissioner, Magnum Manifiesto
“The act of working with the documentation and interpretation of reality is perhaps what has mostly distinguished and continues to distinguish the view of the Magnum agency.”
In this way, these artists were able to take their time to travel where an object had something to offer and also to calmly document historic moments.
They were there, for example, when the Berlin Wall fell. They also photographed the Islamic revolution in Iran... or were able to capture other, much darker places of mankind.
However, they also photographed more tender moments... and more spontaneous. Some of these works can be seen in the “Magnum Manifesto” exhibition currently being shown in Rome.
Magnum Photos is a photograhical revolution that continues today and reaches places where others are not capable of arriving with its own vision.
