Political Activism in Photography: the Mystery of Tina Modotti
An exploration of the works and mystery around the esteemed Italian photographer, Tina Modotti.
Born in August, 1896, Tina Modotti had an early introduction to photography through her father. Though she originally didn’t pursue the art, instead choosing to become an actress, she eventually left her career as a semi-famous film actress to work as a photographer. Modotti was soon commissioned to travel Mexico taking photos for a photography book.
Though Modotti’s landscape works are beautiful on their own, her political activism is by far the most recognizable feature in her photos. She first began exploring politics and representation in her photos by taking pictures of random people on the street.
Modotti asked anyone she met for a photo, often choosing subjects in the midst of going about their day. She longed to capture a personal side of each of her subjects: she wanted the viewer to learn something from her photos, to see each person as a real, working-class subject rather than an idealized studio model.
With each photo she took, she strove more toward politicism and further from the…
