Cala district. The girl with the ball, Palermo, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Exhibition
Letizia Battaglia
From 05 December 2024 to 18 May 2025
Jeu de Paume – Tours
Jeu de Paume pays tribute to Italian photographer and activist Letizia Battaglia (1935-2022) with a major retrospective at the Château de Tours.
Famous for her work on the Cosa nostra, the Sicilian mafia that reigned during the leaden years, her colossal body of work – she produced over 500,000 photographs – is nonetheless highly diverse. This exhibition unveils the photographer’s incandescent career, from her beginnings in 1970s Milan to her death in 2022 in her hometown. Through a selection of some 200 original and modern prints, it highlights Letizia Battaglia’s extraordinary ability to show the world with a fiery, direct passion, without hiding any aspect of it, from the most appalling to the most poetic.
Rosaria Schifani, widow of bodyguard Vito, killed with judge Giovanni Falcone, Francesca Morvillo, Palermo, 1992
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Calderai. Palermo, 1991
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The arrest of fierce [ruthless] mafia godfather Leoluca Bagarella, Palermo, 1979
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Calderai, Palermo, 1991
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Untitled, Palermo, 2016
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The cat and the mouse satiated by garbage, Palermo, 1977
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The party's over on Arenella beach, Palermo, 1986
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Cala district. The girl with the ball, Palermo, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The Vucciria market, Palerme, 1985
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The little girl and the darkness, Isnello, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Magistrate Roberto Scarpinato with his escort on the roof of the courthouse, Palermo, 1998
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The mysteries. The dove, Trapani, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Palermo, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Casa Professa. The rich wife stumbles over the veil, Palerme 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Easter Sunday. The traditional race where men follow the risen Christ, Ribera, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Saint Peter's district, Palermo, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Family at funeral of son who died in hospital, San Vito Lo Capo, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Sabina and Pippo in love, Prizzi, 1983
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
USSR, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Pindeponte. Carnival party at the psychiatric hospital, Palermo, 1986
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Woman Smoking, Catania, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Rosaria Schifani, widow of bodyguard Vito, killed with judge Giovanni Falcone, Francesca Morvillo, Palermo, 1992
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Calderai. Palermo, 1991
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The arrest of fierce [ruthless] mafia godfather Leoluca Bagarella, Palermo, 1979
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Calderai, Palermo, 1991
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Untitled, Palermo, 2016
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The cat and the mouse satiated by garbage, Palermo, 1977
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The party's over on Arenella beach, Palermo, 1986
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Cala district. The girl with the ball, Palermo, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The Vucciria market, Palerme, 1985
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The little girl and the darkness, Isnello, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Magistrate Roberto Scarpinato with his escort on the roof of the courthouse, Palermo, 1998
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
The mysteries. The dove, Trapani, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Palermo, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Casa Professa. The rich wife stumbles over the veil, Palerme 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Easter Sunday. The traditional race where men follow the risen Christ, Ribera, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Saint Peter's district, Palermo, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Family at funeral of son who died in hospital, San Vito Lo Capo, 1980
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Sabina and Pippo in love, Prizzi, 1983
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
USSR, 1989
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Via Pindeponte. Carnival party at the psychiatric hospital, Palermo, 1986
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Woman Smoking, Catania, 1984
© Archivio Letizia Battaglia
Informations
Please note that the exhibition contains potentially shocking content. It includes images of firearms, murder victims, dead animals, police arrests, violence, crime, blood, nudity and scenes of poverty. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of staff or contact our team at info.chateau@ville-tours.fr.