Gallery: A Portrait of a 40-Year Marriage, Told Through Household Items

  • Image may contain Game and Chess
    Photos by Elena Capra
    01

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-06

    The objects in Libro di Famiglia are meant to convey an unspecified impression of the lives of the photographer's parents.
  • Image may contain Flooring Wood Floor Hardwood Plywood Door and Furniture
    Photos by Elena Capra
    02

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-01

    Capra, now living in Berlin, got the idea to shoot the series while planning to do another based on *La Luna e i Falò*, a novel by Cesare Pavese.
  • Image may contain Plastic Bag Plastic Bag Plant and Food
    Photos by Elena Capra
    03

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-10

    The novel was set a short distance from her home town of Asti, in Northwest Italy. "I started with this book, and then shortly I realized that I wanted to search for my own traces," says Capra.
  • Image may contain Shelf and Drying Rack
    Photos by Elena Capra
    04

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-03

    The items are given no contextualizing information, leaving the viewer to gather their own impressions.
  • Image may contain Human Person Plastic Wrap Helmet Clothing and Apparel
    Photos by Elena Capra
    05

    3F-neg-2012-10-SSB-5E-12-cuffia 001

    "It was really interesting to try to see something that's really close to you, but to see it from the outside. Just to see these things with other eyes."
  • Even Capra's parents don't necessarily get the project. “They see the pictures and say ‘Thats not beautiful why did you...
    Photos by Elena Capra
    06

    neg-2013-11-SSB-6C-2-cartuccie 001

    Even Capra's parents don't necessarily "get" the project. “They see the pictures and say, ‘That’s not beautiful, why did you take a picture of that? You should take a picture of nice things, like a beautiful landscape or beautiful people,’” Capra says.
  • Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel and Sleeve
    Photos by Elena Capra
    07

    neg-2013-03-SSB-9F-12-specchio 001

    "I tried to keep a kind of distance from my parents, and I tried to be as much as i could really general and neutral," says Capra. "It’s telling something about their personality."
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person Suit Coat and Overcoat
    Photos by Elena Capra
    08

    neg-2013-03-SSB-9G-1-valigia 001

    Capra says that although the subjects of the photos in the series aren't things you would likely notice otherwise, they have an ability to create strong impressions on the viewer.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person Plant Coat Tree Overcoat and Grass
    Photos by Elena Capra
    09

    neg-2013-07-SSB-11D-12-venezia#1 001

    A picture of Giovanna and Mario was taken in front of a poster of Venice that Capra ordered online and framed.
  • Image may contain Wood Furniture Tabletop Human Person Plywood Table Flooring and Hardwood
    Photos by Elena Capra
    10

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-02

    The previous picture of Venice creates an arc with a photograph from the couple's honeymoon.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Shirt Pants Human Person Home Decor and Dress Shirt
    Photos by Elena Capra
    11

    ecapra-libro-di-famiglia-11

    Made up of still lifes, portraits, and landscapes, the book traces the day-to-day lives and trappings of Giovanna and Mario Capra, now married for 40 years.
  • Image may contain Human Person and Garage
    Photos by Elena Capra
    12

    neg-2013-10-SSB-5F-12-portonegiallo 001

    "I’m most interested in things that are not so special, but that are full of meanings," says Capra.
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