The Museo Diocesano Carlo Maria Martini in Milan is presenting ‘Werner Bischof. Point of View’, an exhibition surveying the life and work of the Swiss photographer on the 110th anniversary of his birth. The exhibition runs from 19 May through 18 October 2026 at the museum within the Chiostri di Sant’Eustorgio complex.
Bischof (Zurich, 1916–Trujillo, Peru, 1954) is described by the museum as one of the most important photojournalists of the 20th century. A member of Magnum Photos from 1949, he developed a humanistic approach to photojournalism that combined documentary rigour with poetic intensity. The exhibition is curated by M. Bischof, A. Holzherr and T. Kuhn, with images credited to Werner Bischof / Magnum Photos.
The presentation includes 200 original vintage photographs, alongside contact sheets and a documentary film. Together, these materials trace Bischof’s engagement with the people and places he photographed, while emphasizing the empathy, attention and respect for human dignity that the museum identifies as central to his practice.
The exhibition is arranged in four chronological sections. ‘Switzerland 1932–1944’ follows Bischof’s formative years and early experiments. ‘Europe 1945–1950’ focuses on his photographs of a continent devastated by the Second World War, a subject that profoundly shaped his work and outlook. ‘Asia 1949–1953’ brings together reportage made in India, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Indochina. The final section, ‘North and South America 1953–1954’, covers the last stage of his career and his visual explorations on the American continents.
The museum’s account of Bischof’s method also points beyond the finished photographs. He made notes, rapid sketches and drawings in his diaries, using these practices to engage closely with the places, events and people he intended to depict. His formal control is evident in balanced compositions and carefully measured gradations of black and white; these qualities contributed to the critical recognition he received during his lifetime and to his unusual description as an artist as well as a photojournalist.
Until 31 August, the photography exhibitions at the Museo Diocesano are open only in the evening, from Monday to Sunday, 5.30pm to 10.30pm, with last admission at 10pm. Evening entry is accessed from Corso di Porta Ticinese 95 and is available through the In-Chiostro Bistrot’s admission formulas. The museum notes that the exhibitions and bistro were closed from 10 to 16 August, with further closures subject to private events. ‘Werner Bischof. Point of View’ remains on view until 18 October 2026.
