Gianni Berengo Gardin, the legendary Italian photographer whose lens defined generations, has passed away at 94. The announcement came from the Italian Photography Centre, where he had long served as president.
Born on October 10, 1930, in Santa Margherita Ligure, Berengo Gardin always identified with Venice, the city he considered his true home.
“My father is Venetian from St Mark’s Square, my wife is Venetian, my children are Venetian. Although I was not born there, I have always considered myself an adopted Venetian,” he once remarked.
Throughout his remarkable career, Berengo Gardin became synonymous with black-and-white photography that revealed the soul of post-war Italy. His work stretched from the waters of the Venetian lagoon to the industrial heartlands of Milan, documenting ordinary lives with extraordinary sensitivity. Over more than six decades, he released upwards of 250 books and saw his photographs displayed in countless exhibitions both at home and abroad.
Critics often placed him alongside Henri Cartier-Bresson for his eye and approach. Yet Berengo Gardin was clear about his own vision.
“I am not an artist, nor do I wish to be: I am only a witness of my era,” he said.
His photographs found their place in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris.
Tributes poured in following his passing. Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli stated:
“In Gianni Berengo Gardin, we have lost an undisputed master of photography. He was a true explorer who knew how to portray humanity and nature in every corner of the earth. His gaze illuminated the history of the 20th century.”