In the early 1960s, internationally acclaimed photographer Bruno Barbey traveled extensively across Italy—from the bustling north to the sun-soaked south—seeking to capture the true spirit of the nation.
The Italians is an evocative collection that reads like a modern Commedia Dell’Arte, featuring beggars, priests, nuns, carabinieri, prostitutes, and Mafiosi—archetypal figures whose vivid personalities and exotic charms helped define the unforgettable characters in the films of Pasolini, Visconti, and Fellini.
Through Barbey’s insightful and poetic lens, these iconic figures come alive, revealing the complex tapestry of Italian culture, tradition, and theatricality that continues to fascinate audiences worldwide.
