Misrata [Libya]. In the Home of Gabrielli, Agent of the Society of Maritime Services [Società dei servizi marittimi]
Misràta. In casa di Gabrielli, agente della Società dei servizi marittimi
Rome, Italy
Italian Geographical Society (SGI)
About Italian Geographical Society (SGI), Rome
Società Geografica Italiana (SGI)
1911
Ignazio Sanfilippo (1857-1943)
In 19th and early 20th century Africa, the nature of the relations between European men and African women varied dramatically according to the different power relations between the partners. In colonial situations, the legal subordination of the colonised people put African women in particularly weak positions vis-à-vis European men, generally resulting in very exploitative relationships. In countries that were not under European rule, more balanced relationships could develop.
This picture shows a mixed family in Libya before the onset of Italian colonialism. The setting of the picture suggests that the Libyan woman enjoyed respect and status within the family: the woman and her children are sitting on chairs, surrounded by persons who appear to be domestic servants, and the Italian man is standing behind her, looking at their children.
Archivio fotografico, UBFC, 216/4/55
Patrizia Pampana, Giulia Barrera "Misrata [Libya]. In the Home of Gabrielli, Agent of the Society of Maritime Services [Società dei servizi marittimi]" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;it;102;en;N
Prepared by: Patrizia Pampana, Giulia Barrera
Copyedited by: Anne Dowell
MWNF Working Number: IT1 102
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