Pioneer. The Liguria Region exhibition for International Women’s Day
The Liguria Region celebrates the 8th of March with “Pioneer”, a photographic exhibition held in Piazza De Ferrari (Genoa) from the 8th to the 19th of March 2023. The exhibition is focused on images of women from the Francesco Leoni photographic archive.
“Pioneer” is curated by Anna Dentoni and Clara Maria Fabbri, and it aims to recall fifty years of social history with many snapshots of women who have driven the change towards female emancipation. Which in many respects it’s still in progress.
Female workers, teachers, mothers, athletes and actresses… pioneers of a changing world that has been captured and represented by Francesco Leoni, a photographer attentive to customs, to work, to the anthropological and social change of Genoa. One of the greatest Genoese photojournalists of the 20th century.
Through installations in Piazza De Ferrari, the exhibition presents his shots and personality.
Leoni began its activity in 1937 and it soon became one of the most important sources for the historical memory of our city: the archive counts over three million negatives, as an extraordinary iconographic resource.
The archive can only be visited by appointment at the Galata Museo del Mare in Genoa.
Women and children on board of the Conte Grande, Genova
The Mayor of Genova Cerofolini gives mimosa flower to the members of “UDI, Movimento Femminile in Difesa della Donna”
Protester at the Peace March
Female athletes running at Villa Gentile, Genoa
Girls at the Campi Solari with teacher
The first driving school instructor
Gymnastic training with the ball at the sports field of Marassi, Genoa
Lina Volonghi as a swimmer at the Piscine d’Albaro, Genoa
Women’s fencing at the Stadio Carlini in Genoa
Ondina Valla at the athletics field in Rapallo
Woman repairing bicycles in Piazza Palermo, Genoa
Woman on the Leonardo da Vinci caring for a turtle and some caged lions
Seaplane driver with Pietro Badoglio
Female Judicial Officers at Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
Poultry Ivaldi in Corso Buenos Aires, Genova
The newsagent in Piazza Dante, Genoa
Annamaria Coselli, one of the first controllers of the railways
Genoa airport, British Caledonian hostess
Women intent on sewing sails in the port of Genoa
Workers of the Cassanello pasta factory in the Genoese district of San Teodoro
Workers of the Central Dairy of Genoa
Congress on tourism in Rapallo
Sophia Loren elected Miss Lido in Genoa
Patty Pravo at the Covo di Nord Est in Santa Margherita Ligure
Ester Williams in Portofino
Michèle Morgan in Portofino for “Racconti d’estate” with Mastroianni
Rosanna Benzi, the first woman to have lived in an iron lung
Wanda Osiris in Alassio
Lumière’s daughter aboard the Independence in Genoa
Gina Lollobrigida in Alassio awarded for interpretation of “The most beautiful woman in the world”
The actress Isa Miranda on the REX ocean liner at the Genoa Maritime Station
Sophia Loren in Riviera