On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we thought we would tell you the story of eight women from the images our team has chosen for you from the Scala Archives. Eight women, living and imagined, whose stories have left an indelible mark on history and culture.
March 8th is the International Women’s Day, an important anniversary to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of Women, but also to remember the discrimination and violence they still suffer in many parts of the world.
In Italy, March 8th is celebrated with various initiatives that combine moments of reflection and social commitment with symbolic gestures and established traditions. One of the most iconic symbols of the day is the mimosa, a yellow flower chosen in the 1940s by the political party Unione Donne Italiane as the emblem of the occasion for its early blooming in March and for its significance of female strength and solidarity.
This year our team has decided to choose for you the stories of eight women who throughout history have left their mark for their determination, courage and above all freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom to cross borders and travel, freedom of behaviour and action in a society dominated by men.
Cristina Seghi, picture archivist and sales rep. for the Italian territory, chose for you this photograph by Tina Modotti.
Tina Modotti (1896-1942), — artist, photographer, activist, and revolutionary — made freedom the guiding principle of her life. Born in Udine (Italy), she emigrated to the United States at a young age, working as a factory worker and actress. From the start, she displayed a restless, independent spirit, unwilling to conform to the social norms of her time. In San Francisco, she met photographer Edward Weston, with whom she developed both a deep artistic and romantic relationship. Weston introduced her to photography, but it was Tina who turned it into a powerful tool for social activism. Together, they moved to Mexico, where she immersed herself in the vibrant post-revolutionary artistic and political scene, forming close ties with Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and other progressive intellectuals.
Tina Modotti lived without compromise, following her ideals and talent without allowing herself to be confined by labels. Her freedom was expressed through her art, her beliefs, her exile, and her resistance. Today, her name stands as that of a pioneer—a woman who chose to live fearlessly.
Among the many photographers whose work enriches our Photography section, Rebecca Innocenti Spada, Assistant to the Director, has chosen to highlight Claude Cahun (1894-1954), a surrealist photographer and artist known for her bold exploration of gender identity and sexuality.
Her work is not only a sharp critique of oppressive norms but also a rebellious statement in a time of historical turmoil. Through her art, Cahun continues to inspire contemporary discussions on individual freedom and authenticity, where creative expression itself becomes an act of resistance.
Paola Brogi from Scala’s Photography Lab has recently selected images from our partners—museums and international archives—that offer insight into the life and work of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint.
Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was a pioneer of abstract art. A visionary artist, she fearlessly explored uncharted creative territories, anticipating the abstract language of artists like Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich by decades.
Born in Sweden, Hilma af Klint studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, initially gaining recognition for her talent in naturalistic painting. However, her true artistic journey began when she became involved in the world of spiritualism and esoteric exploration, which was widely embraced by intellectuals of her time. Convinced that art could serve as a bridge between the visible and the invisible, she started experimenting with new forms of expression, breaking free from the conventions of figurative art.
Rejecting the rigid rules of academic tradition, she worked with complete freedom, driven by a deep inner exploration. Fully aware of the radical nature of her art, Hilma chose not to exhibit her work during her lifetime. In her will, she instructed that her paintings remain inaccessible for at least twenty years after her death—perhaps sensing that her time had yet to come, that the world was not ready to grasp the revolution she had created. Therefore, iIt was only in the late 20th century that her work was rediscovered, unveiling the extraordinary modernity and innovation of her vision.
Vera Silvani, picture archivist and iconographic researcher, brings attention to another remarkable but largely overlooked artist: Lucie Cousturier (1876-1925). She sheds light on the discovery of a long-forgotten painting: The Woman Who Reads (1907).
This artwork remained hidden in the storage rooms of MoMA in New York for over half a century. In October 2023, during a review of the museum’s collection, a list was compiled of works that had never been displayed since their arrival. The Woman Who Reads, donated to MoMA in 1960 by E. & A. Silberman Galleries, had never been exhibited—more strikingly, none of the current curators in the Painting and Sculpture department had ever even seen it.
Far from being a marginalised artist, Lucie Cousturier was at the centre of Parisian Neo-Impressionist circles in the late 19th and early 20th century. An accomplished painter with a respectable exhibition record, she was the author of witty essays and articles on important artists of the Neo-Impressionist movement, including Georges-Pierre Seurat and Paul Signac. She was portrayed by colleagues such as Maximilien Luce and Théo van Rysselberghe. She was also a fine patron of the arts: she and her husband, Edmond Cousturier, owned an important collection of Neo-Impressionist paintings, including Seurat’s best-known work, A Sunday at the Grande Jatte (1884/86), received as a wedding gift in 1900. She travelled extensively in West Africa and, unusually for a French woman of the time, was noted for her criticism of French colonialism.
“Woman Reading”, with its ambitious composition and brushstrokes of pink, green, yellow and blue, is most impressive for its subject matter : a woman alone in a bourgeois interior and intent on reading, embodying therefore the radical concept of intellectual pursuit and individualism .
Scala is certainly a precious support for art-historical research, but it is not only Art, so we have also identified stories related to Archaeology, Religion and Contemporary History.
Cristina D’Alessandro, Sales Italy and UK, has chosen for you a character from Antiquity: Queen Hatshepsut (circa 1507-1458 a.C.), one of the greatest and most influential rulers of Ancient Egypt, well-known for the foundation of the Valley of the Kings.
Daughter of the pharaoh Thutmose I, Hatshepsut became regent for the young Thutmose III, but later assumed the title of pharaoh, ruling for some 20 years during the 18th dynasty.
She had herself represented with male attributes, including the traditional headdress and false beard, to legitimise her power. Her reign was marked by peace, prosperity and great architectural works, including the majestic funerary temple at Deir el-Bahari. She promoted trade, in particular the expedition to Punt, which enriched Egypt with gold, incense and ebony. After her death, her successor Thutmose III tried to erase her memory by destroying many of her statues and inscriptions. However, her legacy as one of the few female pharaohs survives to this day.
Alessandra Pinzani, Sale for France and the Orient, gives us a portrait of another queen: the Queen of Sheba, a legendary figure mentioned in various religious and historical traditions, whose real existence remains uncertain.
According to the Bible, the queen visited King Solomon in Jerusalem, fascinated by his wisdom and the prosperity of his kingdom. The Koran calls her Bilqis, describing her as a powerful queen who converted to Islam after a meeting with the prophet Sulayman (Solomon). Ethiopian tradition, in the sacred text Kebra Nagast, identifies her as Makeda and relates that she had a son by Solomon, Menelik I, considered the founder of Ethiopia’s Solomonic dynasty.
Despite the lack of definitive archaeological evidence, the Queen of Sheba continues to inspire myths, legends and studies, representing a symbol of female power and wisdom in the ancient world. See this Gallery for a selection of images on this subject.
Federica Brivio, Sales for Italy and France, working on a documentary was intrigued by the biography of the daredevil Amelia Earhart, a free and indomitable spirit of the 20th century.
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was one of aviation’s greatest pioneers, an icon of courage and independence who challenged the limits imposed on women of her time. At a time when flying was still an uncertain achievement, she made it her passion and her mission, proving that freedom is won with daring and determination. In 1928 she became the first woman to fly over the Atlantic, but her rebellious spirit was not content to be just a passenger: in 1932 she crossed the ocean solo, breaking records and establishing herself as an aviation legend. With her iconic leather jacket and unstoppable confidence, she defied not only the laws of gravity, but also those of a society that still saw women in limited roles.
Amelia was not only a pilot, but a symbol of emancipation. She encouraged women to pursue their dreams without fear, declaring that the hardest thing is to take the initiative: ‘Women must try to do things as well as men. When they fail, their failure must become a challenge for others.’
In 1937, while attempting to fly around the world, she mysteriously disappeared in the Pacific Ocean.
We conclude this brief journey through the archive by returning to one of the icons of 20th century women’s painting.
Katja Lehmann, Sales for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, has no doubt: Frida Kalho is her favourite artist in the archive!
‘What fascinates me about Frida Kahlo, a woman with an extraordinary personality and a symbol of resilience, is her ability to transform pain into beauty, instead of hiding her own vulnerabilities. She is a symbol of independence and rebellion against the norms imposed by society. Not only did she reject traditional female roles, she also openly confronted her sexuality, her physical difficulties and her complicated relationship with love.’
The celebrated Mexican artist needs no introduction but if you fancy an in-depth look, you can read another TidBits and explore a rich selection of Frida Kalho’s artworks on our website (dynamic link).
To explore this or other iconographic research for your project, please contact our team.
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Cover: Amelia Earhart with other British women pilots, 1930s. – AA18610
