International Women's Day

March 8 is commemorated worldwide and unites all women in a joint demand for equal rights.

Why was March 8 chosen?

March 8 is an important date for feminist movements, as it recalls one of the first public demonstrations by women. On that day, in 1857, thousands of women textile workers occupied the streets of New York with the slogan "Bread and Roses" to demand better working conditions, shorter working hours, and an end to child labor. This event was a precedent for all feminist movements worldwide, as it was one of the first signs of women's organizations.

On March 8, 1908, a transcendental event marked the history of labor and the union struggle worldwide: 129 women died in a fire at a Cotton factory in New York, United States, after they went on strike and remained at their workplace.

In 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) officially designated March 8 as International Women's Day.

Women through history

We are talking about women who, thanks to their voice, strength, courage, and knowledge, managed to change history, not only within feminism but in multiple fields. Women were not afraid to speak out about social injustices, value women's abilities, and show that gender was not a problem in achieving any goal. In short, that’s not because you were female; you were a step below.

In photography, as in many others, when we think of great professionals, primarily male names come to mind: Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Brasai, Newman, etc. Does this mean that there have been no women in the history of photography? Nothing could be further from the truth. Women have played, and continue to play, a significant role in photography.

Today we bring you the first five female photographers, who have marked the world of photography, and their own worlds, thanks to their work.

ANNA ATKINS- United Kingdom

Known as the first woman photographer in history. This botanist became famous for including photographs of plants in her books. Her work exceeded the most rigorous expectations, turning her illustrated manuscripts into authentic scientific guides. A year later, William Henry Fox Talbot published a book incorporating photographs, and he took all the credit.

DOROTHEA LANGE- USA

Was the great portraitist of the Great American Depression. Her photographs have become part of history due to their rawness and veracity. She is the author of one of the most iconic and represented images of the 20th century, Migrant Mother. She left the photography studios to portray the reality of the situation in the United States and show it to the world, becoming a prestigious photojournalist internationally recognized.

DORA MAAR- France

Dora Maar would go on to "fame" for being a partner, muse, and Pablo Picasso. Deeply marked by this relationship and an almost obsessive attraction to death, it is said that she gave up photography and switched to painting because Picasso could not stand that she stood out more than him in any of the areas of their lives.

DIANNE ARBUS- USA

Diane Arbus went down in the history of photography for abandoning the catwalks, magazine covers, and the most reputable photography studios to make visible the forgotten, the marginalized, and the freaks. She pioneered using flash during the day as a fill light. Her portraits, always marked by a strong emotional charge, looked directly at the camera.

INGE MORATH-Austria

A lover of photography, journalism, and travel, she became the first woman to join the ranks of the prestigious Magnum Agency, combining her three passions. She portrayed with her lens some of the personalities of the moment but became famous for her travel photographs, especially for her trip along the Danube River.