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Early Photography in Albania

 
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The Photo Collection
of Giuseppe Massani
Deutsch | Shqip

Albania in 1940

Giuseppe Massani was an Italian photographer. He seems to have been born in Rimini in 1901 and to have studied at the University of Bologna beginning in 1920. Massani became an ardent supporter of the rising fascist movement in Italy and made a name for himself with a first photo album on Mussolini and Italian fascism, La sua terra [His Land], Bergamo 1936. He then began publishing albums on various regions of Italy: Sicily in 1938 and Liguria in 1939. In April 1939, Albania was invaded by Italian forces and soon thereafter absorbed as part of Mussolini’s new Roman Empire. It was just the right moment for Massani to present Italy’s new territory across the Adriatic to the Italian public. No doubt with Italian government backing, he travelled extensively in Albania in 1940 and produced some of the best black-and-white photos ever taken of the country. His pictures were published in the edition Albania: testo e foto di Giuseppe Massani, Rome 1940, with a final section of fascist propaganda called the ‘Union of Italy and Albania.’ The photos in this collection are all taken from this book. Massani published numerous photo albums in the 1960s and 1970, but most of them have been forgotten. His Albania album of 1940, largely forgotten too, is nothing less than spectacular as a mirror of the old Albania before the Stalinist regime took power in 1944.

GM001: View of Shkodra, taken from the fortress (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM002: View of the Boyana (Buna) River at Shkodra, taken from the fortress (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM003: Tunnel entrance to the fortress of Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM004: Tomb of the Bey of Shkodra, at the entrance to the fortress of Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM005: The Lead Mosque of Shkodra in flooded fields (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM006: The fortress of Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM007: Women going to market at Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM008: Woman going to market at Shkodra, veiled but barefooted (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM009: Women at Shkodra market (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM010: Woman at Shkodra market (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM011: House of the notary Summa in Shkodra, with its splendid fireplace (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM012: Nomads near Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM013: Nomads and Muslim graves near Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM014: Woman in mourning, near Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM015: Two women at a grave, near Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM016: Catholic women at mass in Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM017: Women of Bërdica emerging from mass (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM018: Woman in the costume of Bërdica near Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM019: Female costume from around Shkodra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM020: A peasant from Milot on the Mat River (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM021: Flooding near the Drin River (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM022: Northern Albanian men greeting one another (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM023: Northern Albanian women greeting one another (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM024: Young woman from Puka (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM025: Public transportation on a truck (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM026: Young woman from Puka smiling (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM027: Two girls in Mirdita (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM028: Young girl in Mirdita (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM029: Lezha on the Drin River (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM030: Rocky landscape in Dukagjin (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM031: Rainy day near Boga, on the road to Theth (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM032: Men in Boga standing in the rain (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM033: Faces in Dukagjin (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM034: The cemetery of Boga (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM035: Two shepherds in Theth (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM036: Woman and child at a doorway in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM037: Family in the Shala Valley huddled around the fireplace (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM038: Dinner in a home in Okol in the Shala Valley, with the men, women and children at separate tables (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM039: The old warrior, Sadri Luka of Okol in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM040: Shepherd woman of Shala with her spindle (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM041: Two men smoking in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM042: House in or around Theth in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM043: Child staring out a window in Theth (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM044: Giuseppe Massani photographing a child in Theth, with Father Anton Kiri on the right (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM045: Two Shala men conversing in Theth, with photos of King Victor Emmanuel III and Mussolini on the wall (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM046: Shala tribesmen in or around Theth (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM047: Two girls of Okol the Shala Valley wearing xhubletas (bell-shaped skirts) (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM048: Father and daughter in Okol in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM049: Giuseppe Massani watching Shala tribesmen kneading bread (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM050: Father Anton Kiri of Theth in the Shala Valley (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM051: Father Anton Kiri being carried over the Shala River, with Giuseppe Massani behind him (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM052: The bazaar of Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM053: View of Kruja, taken from the fortress (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM054: Cows on the road in Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM055: The fortress of Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM056: Peasant woman in Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM057: Women in Kruja, weaving under the olive trees (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM058: Women in Kruja weaving. (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM059: Baba Ali Myrteza (left) and Giuseppe Massani (right) at the Bektashi teqe of Fushë Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM060: Baba Ali Myrteza (d. 1946) at the Bektashi teqe of Fushë Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM061: Man calling out in the mountains of Kruja (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM062: The road from Kruja to Burrel, over the Shtama Pass (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM063: The Et’hem Bey Mosque in Tirana, built in 1793-1794 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM064: Making white felt caps (plis or qeleshe) in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM065: A tailor shop in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM066: Shoe shining in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM067: Muslim graves in a mausoleum (tyrbe) in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM068: A Muslim grave in a mausoleum (tyrbe) in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM069: On the road near Elbasan (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM070: Harvesting corn near Elbasan (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM071: Young barefoot peasant with a mule near Elbasan (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM072: The old Ottoman Kamara Bridge at Miraka on the Shkumbin River, built in 1715 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM073: Peasant women making flour at Lin on Lake Ohrid (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM074: Houses and children at Lin on Lake Ohrid (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM075: Peasant women at Lin on Lake Ohrid (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM076: Women and children in an Orthodox church graveyard at Lin on Lake Ohrid (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM077: The Church of Saint Elias (Elijah) at Buqëza near Lin on Lake Ohrid (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM078: Ploughing on the banks of Lake Ohrid near Pogradec (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM079: The pine forest of Llogara south of Vlora (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM080: View of the Dukat Valley south of Vlora, taken from Llogara Pass (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM081: Shepherd on Llogara Pass (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM082: Serpentines on the road to Himara, taken from Llogara Pass (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM083: The coastal road in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM084: View of the mountains around Mount Çika in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM085: Giuseppe Massani and a group of schoolchildren in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM086: Under the olive trees in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM087: The village of Dhërmi in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM088: View of Dhërmi in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM089: People leaving church in Dhërmi (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM090: Three women in Dhërmi (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM091: View of Vuno in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM092: The coast of Himara and the Ionian Sea (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM093: Landscape in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM094: Landscape in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM095: Orthodox priest in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM096: Young girl near Spileja in Himara (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM097: Woman and child on horseback near Berat (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM098: The Osum River near Berat, with Mount Tomorr in the background (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM099: View of Leskovik near the Greek border (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM100: Statue of guerrilla fighter Themistokli Gërmenji (1871-1917) on the main street of Korça (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM101: View of Përmet (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM102: Bridge on the road near Përmet (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM103: View of Këlcyra, with the residence (sarajet) of Ali Bey Këlcyra on the mountainside (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM104: View of the Vjosa River near Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM105: Child in Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM106: Walls of the fortress of Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM107: View of the Vjosa River (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM108: Dry bed of the Drino River near Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM109: Poplars on the road to Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM110: A shepherd near Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM111: Woman on horseback near Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM112: View of Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM113: A Bektashi teqe in Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM114: View of part of Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM115: Vaults in the fortress of Gjirokastra (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM116: Fields near Delvina (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM117: A wedding procession near Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM118: The veiled bride in a wedding procession near Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM119: The bride and her attendants in a wedding procession near Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM120: A wedding procession near Tepelena (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM121: Giuseppe Massani (left) and his car crossing a flooded valley near Saranda (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM122: Giuseppe Massani (second from right) and his travelling companions on the road near Saranda (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM123: Giuseppe Massani in bed in Saranda (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM124: The Bay of Vlora (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM125: Italian troops disembarking in Durrës (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM126: Italian Foreign Minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944), speaking to crowds in Durrës on 22 May 1940 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM127: Aerial view of Scanderbeg Square in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM128: Italian troops disembarking at Saranda, then called Porto Edda (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM129: Italian troops in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM130: Demonstration of Italian-Albanian friendship during the occupation (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM131: An organized pro-Duce demonstration in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM132: An Albanian talking to two Italian soldiers (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM133: Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano (left) speaking in the Italian parliament (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM134: Italian King Victor Emmanuel III speaking in Rome at the ceremony during which he was made King of Albania on 16 April 1939 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM135: Benito Mussolini (left) meeting the Albanian Prime Minister Shefqet Bey Vërlaci (1877-1946) (third from right) in Rome on 16 April 1939 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM136: Festivities in Rome in honour of the Italian mission in Albania (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM137: The State Bank of Albania in Tirana, seen from the forecourt of the Et’hem Bey Mosque (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM138: Sketch for the Casa del Fascio in Tirana, which was constructed and now houses the Polytechnic University of Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM139: Sketch for an official residence of the Italian Viceroy (Luogoteneza) in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM140: Sketch of proposed gardens for the official residence of the Italian Viceroy in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM141: Sketch of a proposed park for the official residence of the Italian Viceroy in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM142: Sketch for Hotel Dajti, which was constructed and used as such until the 1990s (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM143: Sketch of the building of the Dopolavoro Albanese, a fascist leisure and sports organisation. It was constructed and now houses the Academy of Arts in Tirana (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM144: Italian Foreign Minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano, reviewing troops in Albania in May 1940 GM145: Count Ciano (drinking) and Albanian Prime Minister Sheqfet Bey Vërlaci inaugurating an aqueduct in Albania in May 1940 (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM146: Muslims at prayer in Durrës (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM147: The copper mine at Rubik on the Fan River in Mirdita (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM148: A new brewery in Korça (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM149: Market scene in central Albania (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM150: Road construction in central Albania (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM151: Road construction in central Albania (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM152: Road construction between Durrës and Vlora (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM153: Young shepherd in a field (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM154: Draining the marshes around Durrës (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM155: Albanian woman meeting Benito Mussolini (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM156: Young Albanian ‘blackshirts’ (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM157: Children in a truck (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM158: Young Albanian boys marvel at an Italian aircraft (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM159: A legion of barbers for Albanian children, in Bari in southern Italy (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM160: Washing Albanian children, in Bari in southern Italy (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM161: Italian doctors vaccinating Albanian children (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM162: Albanian boys having a meal (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM163: Albanian ‘blackshirt’ boys saluting in fascist style (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). GM164: An Albanian mother with her two ‘blackshirt’ sons (Photo: Giuseppe Massani, 1940). simple jquery lightboxby VisualLightBox.com v5.9

 

Die Fotosammlung des Giuseppe Massani
English | Shqip

Albanien im Jahre 1940

Obwohl genaue Angaben fehlen, scheint der italienische Fotograf, Giuseppe Massani, in Rimini im Jahre 1901 geboren zu sein und ab 1920 die Universität Bologna besucht zu haben. Massani wurde früh zum glühenden Verfechter der jungen faschistischen Bewegung in Italien und machte sich einen Namen mit seinem ersten Fotoalbum über Mussolini und die Bewegung, La sua terra [Sein Land], Bergamo 1936. Danach erschienen Alben über italienische Regionen: Sizilien 1938 und Ligurien 1939. Im April 1939 wurde Albanien von Italien militärisch besetzt und anschließend als Teil von Mussolinis neuem Römischen Reich angegliedert. Für Massani war die Zeit gekommen, dem italienischen Publikum die neuen Territorien jenseits der Adria vorzustellen. Wohl mit amtlicher Unterstützung besuchte er Albanien 1940 und machte auf seiner ausgedehnten Reise ausgezeichnete schwarz-weiss Fotos, die zu den besten Aufnahmen gehören, die von Albanien bis dahin gemacht wurden. Diese Fotos wurden in dem Band Albania: testo e foto di Giuseppe Massani, Rom 1940, veröffentlicht. Am Ende des Buches wurde ein Abschnitt faschistischer Propaganda unter dem Titel ‚Die Union von Italien und Albanien‘ hinzugefügt. Alle  hier gezeigten Aufnahmen stammen aus dem besagten Buch. In den 1960er und 1970er Jahren veröffentlichte Giuseppe Massani weitere Fotoalben. Die meisten von ihnen sind in Vergessenheit geraten. Sein Albanien-Album von 1940, als Spiegelbild Albaniens vor der Zeit des Kommunismus, ist spektakulär.

 

Koleksioni fotografik i Xhuzepe Masanit
(Giuseppe Massani)

English | Deutsch

Shqipëria në vitin 1940

Xhuzepe Masani ishte fotograf italian. Megjithëse nuk ka të dhëna të sigurta për të, duket se ka lindur në Rimini në vitin 1901 dhe ka studiuar ne Universitetin e Bolonjës duke filluar në vitin 1920. Masani u bë ithtar i flakët i lëvizjes fashiste dhe doli në pah me një album fotografik për Musolinin dhe fashizmin: La sua terra [Toka e tij], Bergamo 1936. Pas kësaj, botoi një sërë albumesh për rajonet e Italisë: Sicilia në vitin 1938 dhe Liguria në vitin 1939. Në prill 1939, Shqipëria u pushtua nga forcat italiane dhe pak kohë më pas iu aneksua perandorisë së re romake të Musolinit. Ishte momenti i duhur për fotografin që t’i prezantonte publikut italian trevat e reja të Italisë përtej Adriatikut. Sigurisht me mbështetjen zyrtare, Masani udhëtoi gjerësisht në Shqipërinë ‘italiane’ dhe bëri fotografi të mrekullueshme. Fotot u botuan në vëllimin Albania: testo e foto di Giuseppe Massani [Shqipëria: teksti dhe fotot nga Xhuzepe Masani], Romë 1940, me një kapitull të fundit të propagandës fashiste ‘Bashkimi Italoshqiptar.’ Të gjitha pamjet e këtij koleksioni janë marrë nga ky libër. Në vitet 1960 dhe 1970 Masani botoi disa albume të tjera, shumica e të cilave tashmë janë lënë në harresë. Albumi i Shqipërisë i vitit 1940, i harruar edhe ai, mbetet i mahnitshëm si pasqyrë e Shqipërisë së vjetër para komunizmit.

 

 

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