Politics has always been at the heart of Mauro Vallinotto’s work. His photographs document key moments of the 20th century, tracing the rise and fall of leaders, the struggles of ordinary citizens, and the transformations of societies in search of democracy, rights, and identity. From the streets of Italy during labor unrest to the transitions of Southern Europe, from the political theater of U.S. elections to the everyday life marked by conflict and hope in Northern Ireland, these images capture history in the making.
They are not only records of events, but also powerful visual narratives that reveal the emotions, contradictions, and aspirations of entire generations. Through them, politics becomes tangible — a living force that shapes destinies, inspires movements, and redefines collective memory.
Francesco Cossiga – Talamona – 1972 
Francesco Cossiga – Auronzo – 1986 
Enrico Berlinguer – Torino – 1971 
Festa dell’Unità – Milano – 1983 
Festa dell’Unità – Milano – 1983 
Bettino Craxi – Milano – 1985 
Bettino Craxi – Palermo – 1981 
Gianni De Michelis – Venezia – 1982 
Sandro Pertini – Roma – 1982 
Antonio Gava e Remo Gaspari – Palmanova – 1976 
Giulio Andreotti – Gemona del Friuli – 1976 
Comizio della DC – Chilivani – 1972 
Giorgio Almirante – Torino – 1972 
Manifestazione della Maggioranza Silenziosa – Torino – 1973 
Celebrazione di Re Umberto I – Torino – 1970 
Celebrazione di Re Umberto I – Torino – 1970 
Funerale di Re Umberto II – Hautecombe, Francia – 1983 
Commemorazione della X Mas – Ponti sul Mincio – 1992 
Commemorazione della X Mas – Ponti sul Mincio – 1992 
Giovanni Malagodi – Roma – 1987 
Umberto Bossi – Bergamo – 1990 
Raduno della Lega Nord – Pontida – 1990 
Manifestazione per Mani Pulite – Milano – 1992 
Silvio Berlusconi – Milano – 1980 
Silvio Berlusconi – Milano – 1994 
Beppe Grillo – Milano – 2007
The history of Italian politics from the First to the Second Republic through faces, events, and symbolic moments. From institutional figures such as Sandro Pertini, Francesco Cossiga, and Giulio Andreotti, to party leaders like Enrico Berlinguer, Bettino Craxi, and Umberto Bossi, up to the rise of Silvio Berlusconi, these images capture an Italy marked by passions, conflicts, and profound transformations. Popular demonstrations, party gatherings, commemorations, and rallies become a mirror of a nation in constant change, shaped by hopes, crises, and new political identities.
Manifestazione dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1969 
Manifestazione dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1969 
Manifestazione dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1969 
Manifestazione dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1969 
Gianni Agnelli – Torino – 1969 
Manifestazione dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1969 
Sciopero dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1971 
Sciopero dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1971 
Sciopero dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1971 
Sciopero dei metalmeccanici FIAT – Torino – 1974 
Sciopero dei metalmeccanici – Torino – 1974 
Sciopero alla FIAT Mirafiori – Torino – 1975 
Sciopero alla FIAT Mirafiori – Torino – 1975 
Fabbrica Innocenti – Milano – 1975 
Luciano Lama alla Magneti Marelli – Milano – 1976 
Assemblea all’Alfa Romeo – Arese – 1977
The workers’ struggles and mass demonstrations of Italy’s “Hot Autumn” and the broader labor movements of the 1970s. Strikes, factory assemblies, and street protests led by metalworkers and trade unions marked a turning point in Italian society, giving voice to demands for better wages, rights, and dignity in the workplace. Figures like union leader Luciano Lama, the mobilization at FIAT Mirafiori, and the imagery of occupied factories illustrate a decade of intense social conflict and collective action that reshaped labor relations and left a lasting mark on the country’s political landscape.
Festa del Partito Comunista – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Assemblea del MFA – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione contro la chiusura di Radio Renascença – Bragança, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione contro la chiusura di Radio Renascença – Bragança, Portogallo – 1975 
Comizio di Alvaro Cunhal, segretario del PCP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Comizio di Mario Soares, segretario del PSP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione unitaria PCP-PSP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione unitaria PCP-PSP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione unitaria PCP-PSP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Manifestazione unitaria PCP-PSP – Lisbona, Portogallo – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975 
Funerali di Francisco Franco – Madrid, Spagna – 1975
In 1975, the Iberian Peninsula experienced a historic turning point: after decades of authoritarian rule, Spain and Portugal embarked on the path to democracy. In November, Francisco Franco died, bringing nearly forty years of dictatorship to an end and opening the way for Spain’s transition, marked by caution but also by a strong desire for freedom. In Portugal, the Carnation Revolution of 1974 reached its fulfillment the following year with the first free elections, sealing the break with the Salazarist regime. Two countries long isolated thus rejoined democratic Europe, reinforcing the idea of a continent increasingly united around the values of political freedom and civil rights.
Bill Clinton – New Hampshire, USA – 1996 
Bill Clinton – New Hampshire, USA – 1996 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Convention dei Democratici – Atlanta, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1984 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
Primarie dei Democratici – New Hampshire, USA – 1988 
George H. W. Bush – New Hampshire, USA – 1996 
George H. W. Bush – New Hampshire, USA – 1996
Inside the vibrant and dramatic world of American politics during the Democratic primaries and conventions, alongside glimpses of George H. W. Bush on the campaign trail. From the energy of mass rallies to intimate moments with voters, these images capture the passion, spectacle, and contradictions of U.S. democracy in the making.
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975 
Marcia della pace – Belfast, Irlanda del Nord – 1975
The Peace March in Belfast, 1975, was a powerful moment in the midst of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Through portraits of ordinary citizens, women, children, and activists, alongside images of soldiers and the stark urban landscape, the photographs reveal both the tension and the hope of a society yearning for change. These images stand as testimony to the courage of those who raised their voices for peace in one of the most divided cities of Europe.
