Until Oct. 8: DREAMING OF CORSAIRS. Museo della Città, Livorno. Open Mon. – Fri. 10 am – 8 pm, Sat. – Sun. 10 am – 10 pm. Admission: €6.
The “Dreaming of Corsairs” show features a wide range of the airy, naturalistic and one-of-a-kind photos of Livorno. Visitors are invited to explore the deep historical and artistic images of Livorno on loan from the Alinari Photography Foundation archive. The photographs explore the relationship between the city, the sea and the people who have integrated themselves as residents of Livorno, Tuscany’s major seaport.
“Dreaming of Corsairs” explores the city of Livorno from a humanistic perspective. The exhibition’s purpose is to display Livorno through the decades of the 19th and 20th century. The images are mostly black and white, with a range of subjects including nature, architecture, and people. There is no set theme, the city is what truly connects each image with others. It allows for a deep understanding of Livorno and its history, while also providing opportunities for connection and reflection. The show was organized through a collaboration of the Alinari Foundation with the Municipality of Livorno and the Tuscany Region. The name derives from Michele Vestrini’s 1958 photograph, “Sognando i corsari,” which is a photo of a child facing the Tyrrhenian sea at the Mascagni Terrace.
The Fratelli Alinari photography firm was established in Florence in 1852. Leopoldo Alinari set up a photographic laboratory, but later his brothers, Giuseppe and Romualdo Alinari, founded the firm together. The archive is a reflection of Italian culture through the collection of images that capture the social, political, economic, artistic and naturalistic aspects. The archive contains 5.5 million photographs that capture Italy through a historical lens. (cami fowler)
