Palazzo Attems-Petzenstein in Gorizia hosts the exhibition "Back to Peace? La guerra vista dai grandi fotografi Magnum," which presents the Second World War and its aftermath through two hundred photographs, video installations, and soundscapes by legendary Magnum photographers. The show features iconic works by Robert Capa, Eve Arnold, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour, Eric Hartmann, René Burri, Thomas Hoepker, George Rodger, Wayne Miller, and Werner Bischof, covering the Normandy landings, the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, the atomic devastation of Hiroshima, and the return of French prisoners. Curated by Andrea Holzherr and Marco Minuz, the exhibition is divided into two sections: one focusing on wartime imagery and the other on the immediate consequences of the conflict, including the suffering of civilians and the fragile hope of reconstruction.
The exhibition matters because it leverages the unparalleled legacy of Magnum Photos—one of the most respected and enduring photographic agencies—to confront contemporary audiences with the human cost of war and the enduring need for peace. By juxtaposing iconic war photography with images of recovery and resilience, the show underscores the power of visual documentation to preserve historical memory and reinforce the nuclear taboo. In a period of global uncertainty, the exhibition serves as a timely reminder of photography's role in shaping our understanding of conflict, trauma, and the fragile pursuit of peace.