The first female photographer of Cinecittà!
Biography of Chiara Samugheo
Birth and Origins
Chiara Samugheo, born Chiara Paparella on March 25, 1935, in Bari, and who passed away on January 13, 2022, in the same city, was an iconic figure in Italian photography. Her work profoundly marked the cultural and cinematic landscape of her country.
Early Career
Initially aspiring to become a music composer, Chiara Samugheo discovered her true vocation in photojournalism after moving to Milan at the age of 18. Her professional career, marked by an unceasing quest for truth and beauty, led her to explore varied themes, from magical-religious phenomena and Italian social issues to the peaks of international cinema glamour.
Transition to Cinematic Photography
The Golden Age of Italian Cinema
Chiara Samugheo’s transition to photographing cinema stars in the late 1950s coincided with the golden age of Italian cinema. She became the first Italian female photographer to capture the essence of Cinecittà. Her intimate portraits of celebrities such as Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, and Anna Magnani revealed unseen facets of these icons, contributing to the mythology of Italian cinema and giving a human dimension to the often idolized figures of the big screen.
Chiara Samugheo Works and Contributions
Photographic Archives
With an impressive archive of over 165,000 snapshots, preserved at the Center for Studies and Communication Archives at the University of Parma, the work of Madame Chiara Samugheo goes far beyond cinema. She also captured with rare sensitivity the social and cultural realities of her time, exploring themes as diverse as Sardinia, her adopted land, and the Olympic Games. Additionally, some of her photographs were digitized with the professional scanner Creo iQSmart2, ensuring exceptional image quality and the preservation of her work for future generations. These reports testify to her ability to grasp the essence of the most varied subjects, earning her international recognition and numerous awards.
Legacy and Influence
Chiara Samugheo : A Pioneer in Photography
Chiara Samugheo was not just a photographer; she was a pioneer who broke barriers in a male-dominated field. A passionate and empathetic artist, she documented the multiple facets of Italy and its cinema. Her work represents a valuable testimony of Italy’s cultural and social history, offering unique perspectives on moments of transformation and the evolution of mentalities.
Brigitte Bardot by Chiara Samugheo
Walter Chiari by Chiara Samugheo
Giuliana De Sio by Chiara Samugheo
Barbara Bouchet by Chiara Samugheo
Alfred Hitchcock photographs on aluminum panels used for exhibitions by Chiara Samugheo
Alfred Hitchcock Roma anni-60 by Chiara Samugheo
Valeria Moriconi by Chiara Samugheo
Stefania Casini by Chiara Samugheo
Brigitte Bardot by Chiara SamugheoTribute and Legacy
Chiara Samugheo : A Model of Boldness and Creativity
In paying tribute to Madame Chiara Samugheo, we celebrate not only her incredible talent and indelible contribution to photography and cinema but also her pioneering spirit. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of photographers and filmmakers, reminding us of the importance of vision, determination, and the ability to capture humanity in all its complexity. Chiara Samugheo remains a model of boldness and creativity, whose work continues to shine, testifying to the power of art to reveal truth and beauty in life’s most unexpected moments.
Chiara Samugheo Collection of ERC721 NFTs
Innovation and Modernity
In tribute to the legacy of Chiara Samugheo and her enduring influence on the world of photography, an exclusive collection of ERC721 NFTs (non-fungible tokens) has been created. This groundbreaking collection encapsulates the iconic photographs of Chiara Samugheo in TIF format, ensuring exceptional image quality and long-term digital preservation. Each NFT is a unique work of art, allowing collectors and art enthusiasts to own an authentic piece of Italian cultural history. Some of the images in this collection were digitized with the professional Creo iQSmart2 scanner, ensuring unparalleled precision and fidelity. Cameras such as the Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 8000 ED and the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 were also used. Some shots reach impressive resolutions of up to 12800×9600 pixels at 300 dpi. This initiative merges the traditional art of photography with blockchain innovations, honoring the pioneering spirit of Chiara Samugheo while opening new avenues for the appreciation and preservation of her work.
