Ikonographia Archive provides a unique lens into American and international popular culture, showcasing the work of illustrators, photographers, and designers, focusing on 20th-century advertisements. A Story is the core module of Ikonographia. It’s a curated collection of images on a given topic, surrounded by all available contexts, including historical background and text transcripts.
Bread-making as a form of art in Sardinia
In Sardinia, Italy, many still bake bread at home. For special events, like Easter and weddings, these bread sculptures, often showcasing high levels of both imagination and artistic ability, are given as an expression of good wishes. More intricate ones will be finely painted and include clothing like the Easter bread and egg dolls.
“The Girl Of To-Day” Beauty Contest. The New York Times 1913
1913’s American beauties revealed. In late 1913 The New York Times organized a beauty contest, asking readers to send photographs of typical American beauties. They depict an extraordinary snapshot of the concept of beauty, elegance, and aesthetics in photography at the time.
Ten Iconic Bburago Photographs by Roberto Bigano
For this third post of the Bburago series, I selected ten iconic photographs that become very popular among the boys who grew up with “milk and Bburago,”. For any image, we show you the original slide on large format film, some times uncropped and the published version.
Bburago MMonza Diorama Garages. 1992
The MMonza Diorama Garages was probably the Bburago’s most ambitious project, with an obsessive attention to detail. Produced in only five pieces per subject, towards the end of 1992 they were put on sale in a test area. They were too expensive, and the project was aborted. As a consequence, these items are today scarce.
Ten years with Bburago die cast models
From 1991 to 2000, Roberto Bigano worked as a photographer for Bburago, Die-cast Models. In this post and subsequent ones, he tells the story of this fascinating work relationship. We will see the original photographs, prints, and many exclusive vintage materials, some of which can be purchased in our store.
Evolution of Style through Mannequins. Part 1: 1978-1980
Roberto Bigano have been shooting “Plastic Girls” for over forty years. Mannequins tell a lot about the culture of a country and the evolution of fashion and style. This post is the first of a series and features photographs taken from 1978 to 1980.
Bugatti Posters
Ettore Bugatti himself designed his cars. He also often designed or supervised the making of the company documentation and factory designs. Ettore also hired the best artist for the posters and advertisement in general.
Middle Ages Vandals
Graffiti or tagging is not only a modern artistic expression. We see examples as far back as the middle ages. The post showcases several examples of this practice on the frescoes of the stunning Basilica of San Zeno in Verona, Italy built in the eleventh century.
1926. The Complete Love Story betweeen Tonino and Amelia
A Passionate Kiss Ferrara, Italy, March 1926. A passionate kiss started an aching love story told through a series of postcards between the two lovers, that always brought back to that first kiss. The correspondence lasted about two years but we believe the romance...