AUGUSTO CANTAMESSA: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SPECTRUM OF GRAYS - THE LIFE AND ART OF A SELF-TAUGHT ITALIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

Augusto Cantamessa

Augusto Cantamessa, born in Turin in 1927 and passed away in Bibiana in 2018, was one of the most fascinating yet lesser-known Italian photographers. He often described himself as a man born into a world of black and white, reflecting the stern and somber post-war Turin. This strictness, however, enabled him to depict a world ruled by an endless spectrum of grays through the art of photography, which captivated him since his youth.

Born in Turin, Augusto moved at a young age with his family to Campiglione Fenile, where his interest in photography blossomed. He joined the Subalpine Photographic Society, engaging in conversations with the local photography masters. At eighteen, he dedicated his first snapshot to his girlfriend Felicita, who would later become his wife. After moving back to the Piedmont capital and becoming an industrial manager, Cantamessa continued to pursue his photographic passion as a self-taught enthusiast, in association with the Italian Photographic Association (AFI) and the FIAT Cultural Center.

In 1957, he was honored with the title of ‘Artiste de la FIAP’ (AFIAP) by the International Federation of Photographic Art for his photographic achievements, bolstered by international accolades.

Despite his demanding professional commitments, Cantamessa’s passion for photography endured during his years in Turin, leading him to explore other subjects such as still life and portraiture.

“Cantamessa was a witness to his era, an era he did not want to see fade away,” adds Genovesio. “In the rush of a society that too quickly changes moods and customs, the interplay of light and shadow, the blacks and whites, and the perspective relationships between objects and characters found in his photographs become a means to ‘whisper’ the stories of places, people, and slices of life.”