Toward a New Landscape: The Architectural Photography of Gabriele Basilico, 1978-1984

Abstract

Trained as an architect shortly before becoming a photographer of urban spaces, Italian photographer Gabriele Basilico (1944-2013) is celebrated for his work on the city in transition. Beginning in 1978, Basilico refrained from photographing people and turned his attention to the architectural structures that make up a city, an approach that would define the remainder of his career. His focus on architecture and urban landscapes places Basilico in the realm of the "new landscape photography" in Italy, which is recognized for depicting previously overlooked areas of the city, such as defunct industrial sites, with renewed interest.

This thesis investigates three seminal works in Basilico's early career that secure his position in the new landscape photography. I argue that he maintains an intentional subjectivity, an intimate connection with his subject, which manifests itself through a humanistic or anthropomorphic presence in his photographs, articulating the true essence of his urban subjects.