The female universe in Magnum Photos agency shots from post-war to today
March 22 – September 21, 2025
Abano Terme, Villa Bassi Rathgeb Museum
The Villa Bassi Rathgeb Museum in Abano Terme presents Women Power, an extraordinary photographic exhibition that explores, through iconic images from the Magnum Photos agency, the role of women from the post-World War II period to today, highlighting the strength and complexity of the female journey towards emancipation and the social transformations that have marked the condition of women in the last seventy years.
Women Power focuses on two complementary aspects: women photographers who document reality with a unique vision, and women portrayed who emerge as subjects of great value through Magnum’s lenses, witnesses of challenges, achievements, and roles in intimate and public contexts. The exhibition unfolds around six thematic sections that explore the family context, growth, identity, myths of beauty and fame, political battles, and war. Each of these themes is represented by works created by some of the most important female authors of Magnum Photos, including Inge Morath, Eve Arnold, Olivia Arthur, Myriam Boulos, Bieke Depoorter, Nanna Heitmann, Susan Meiselas, Lúa Ribeira, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Marilyn Silverstone, and Newsha Tavakolian. Internationally renowned authors alongside young contemporary photographers, with reportages created in very different historical and geographical contexts, ranging from portraits of Marilyn Monroe to those of FARC fighters in Colombia.
The exhibition brings out a comparison between styles, languages, and generations, giving life to an unprecedented dialogue of voices and perspectives that are never conventional. The photographs, although very different from each other, are linked by struggles, emotions, and experiences that, through their presence and postures, become symbols of a journey of emancipation, both as individuals and as communities.
While celebrating the female contribution to photography, the exhibition also includes shots by famous photographers such as Robert Capa, Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Rafal Milach, Paolo Pellegrin, and Ferdinando Scianna, who have been able to narrate the female condition by witnessing the challenges related to women’s rights. The exhibition also offers a starting point for reflection on the relationship between the female body and its representation. The photographs immortalize women in moments of intimacy, but also in full public engagement, where their presence and postures become symbols of a struggle towards emancipation, not only as individuals but as communities.
Cover: Listen Project, Iran, 2010-2011 © Newsha Tavakolian / Magnum Photos
Curated by Walter Guadagnini, Monica Poggi
Promoted by Municipality of Abano Terme
In collaboration with CoopCulture
Produced by CAMERA — Italian Center for Photography
In collaboration with Magnum Photos
Press office and communication
Lara Facco P&C
Catalog
Dario Cimorelli Editore
available in the museum bookshop
FROM MARCH 22 TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
Wednesday to Sunday: 10 AM – 1 PM / 3 PM – 7 PM
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
JULY and AUGUST 2025
Wednesday to Sunday: 10 AM – 1 PM / 4 PM – 8 PM
The museum will be closed from August 4 to 17, 2025 (inclusive).
The ticket office closes one hour before Museum’s closing time
Full price € 10.00
Reduced € 8.00
Reduced students 7-25 years € 5.00
Reduced family € 25.00
Curated by Walter Guadagnini, Monica Poggi
Promoted by Municipality of Abano Terme
In collaboration with CoopCulture
Produced by CAMERA — Italian Center for Photography
In collaboration with Magnum Photos
Press office and communication Lara Facco P&C
Catalog Dario Cimorelli Editore available in the museum bookshop
Lara Facco P&C
Via della Moscova 18, 20121 Milano | press@larafacco.com
Lara Facco | M. +39 349 2529989 | e.lara@larafacco.com
Camilla Capponi | M. +39 366 3947098 | e.camilla@larafacco.com
Marta Zanichelli | M. +39 339 2816693 | e.martazanichelli@larafacco.com
ON FOOT AND BY BIKE
The Museum is easily reached from Abano Terme center with a walk of about 900 meters. From Piazza Repubblica, walk along Via Giuseppe Mazzini, which has a pavement and a tree-lined cycle path. The street ends directly in front of the entrance gate to our garden. A bike parking is available inside the villa area.
BY CAR
For those traveling on the A4 Torino-Trieste motorway, we recommend taking the Padova Ovest exit, whether coming from Milan or Venice. From there, continue on the western ring road (Corso Australia) heading south until you reach the new link road to Abano, which leads in just a couple of minutes to the large roundabout at the entrance to Abano Terme center.
Those arriving from the A13 motorway (Bologna-Padova) can take the Terme Euganee exit and then follow the SS Adriatica towards Padova until the junction of the new bypass that quickly leads to Abano Terme center.
A large free car park is available in front of the Museum, with entrance from Via Giuseppe Mazzini.
BY TRAIN
The nearest railway station is Terme Euganee in Montegrotto, on the Bologna-Padova line, where all major trains stop. Alternatively, Padova station on the Milan-Venice line is equally convenient, with service from all trains. Buses on lines A, AT, M, T, and TL depart every 15 minutes from the station square directly to Abano Terme (journey time 30 minutes). Both stations offer taxi services.
