Discover the Outskirts of Milan Through Paolo Monti's Photography
These photographs show the changing social structure and urban landscape of the city
A look at the growing city of Milan
The BEIC proposes here a selection of images taken from the Archivio Paolo Monti related to the theme of the Milanese suburbs and their growth since the post-war period. Milan’s suburbs grew at a rapid pace, changing the urban aspect, but also the social conformation of the territory.
Milan. Suburbs. Abandoned industrial building (1981/1982) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Paolo Monti's photographs are a precious testimony of this peculiar period of Italian history. Born in Novara, he chose Milan as the center of his professional activity, and documented its transformations, dedicating many shots to it.
Milan. Suburbs. Children on the street and man at Darsena (1960/1970) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
The construction of new suburbs led to an enlargement of the urban space, with the incorporation of the neighboring countryside.
Milan. Suburbs. Urban views with figures (1950/1960) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milan. Suburbs. Storage of decorative stone materials (1981) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
The growth of the city led to a new coexistence of modern lifestyles and traditional structures and beliefs.
Milan. Figures along a wall (1950/1960) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
The social and cultural changes of Milan are a well covered topic in popular culture, from the lyrics of Enzo Jannacci, Giorgio Gaber and Adriano Celentano, to the films of Lina Wertmüller, Luchino Visconti, or Camillo Mastrocinque.
Sundays in Milan (1950/1960) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
At the end of the 1950s, Italy experienced a phase of economic and productive growth that changed the social structure and the urban landscape dramatically and is still to be seen.
Milan. Suburbs. Urban views and figures (1950/1960) by Paolo MontiFondazione BEIC - Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
The photographer's gaze highlights some of the contradictions of this period which experienced conflicting and overwhelming moments.
These images reflect the fascinated, sometimes disenchanted look on a growing city, and on a world in transformation.
Exhibition developed by Ambra Carboni, Lisa Longhi, Marcella Medici, Mara Persello, members of the BEIC Digital Library team.
The Paolo Monti Fund is owned by the BEIC Foundation and located in the Civico Archivio. These images are licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0 International.
