The Marubi National Museum of Photography, in partnership with Fondazione Alinari per la Fotografia and with the support of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tirana, is pleased to announce a Call for Papers for an upcoming conference focused on the influence of Italian photographers in Mediterranean countries during the 19th century. The event will be held at the Marubi National Museum of Photography in Shkodër on 17-18 October 2025.

This conference will explore the significant impact of Italian photographers who not only traveled across the Mediterranean but also established photographic studios and professional practices that endured in the region. Their work played a crucial role in shaping local photographic traditions, artistic sensibilities, and documentary practices.

In the 19th century, photography became an essential tool for documenting the diverse cultures, landscapes, and traditions of the Mediterranean. Italian photographers introduced innovative techniques and visual styles that greatly influenced the development of the medium in the countries they worked in. By setting up long-term studios, they not only documented social and cultural transformations but also trained local photographers, leaving a lasting legacy that helped define national visual identities. Their work, ranging from portraiture and landscape photography to ethnographic studies, helped shape the Mediterranean's visual narrative, influencing local and European perceptions alike.

A special focus will be dedicated to Pietro Marubbi, an Italian photographer who settled in Albania and founded the studio in Shkodër that later became the foundation of the famous Marubi photographic archive. This archive remains an invaluable historical resource, and hosting this conference at the Marubi Museum honors his contribution to the region’s photographic heritage.

Themes and Topics

We invite scholars and researchers to submit papers exploring a variety of topics related to Italian photographers in the Mediterranean during the 19th century, including but not limited to:

• Case studies of Italian photographers who established studios in Mediterranean countries
• The photographic techniques used by Italian photographers in the 19th century
• The impact of Italian photographic studios on local photographic traditions
• The role of Italian photographers in the commercialization and institutionalization of photography in the Mediterranean
• Contributions of Italian photographers to the artistic and historical heritage of the region
• How photography helped spread Mediterranean culture and ideas
• The role of photography in shaping tourism and public perception of the Mediterranean

Submission Details

We welcome submissions from scholars and researchers interested in these topics. Proposals should include:

• An abstract (maximum 800 words)
• A short biography of the author (maximum 300 words)

Conference Languages: English, Italian, Albanian
Registration Fee: None

Important Deadlines

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 May 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: 30 June 2025
• Submission of Full Paper and Slides: 31 July 2025

For more information and to submit your proposal, please contact info@marubi.gov.al