Latif al-Ani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Latif al-Ani
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| Born | 1932 Baghdad, Iraq
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| Died | (aged 89) Baghdad, Iraq
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| Nationality | Iraqi |
| Known for | Photographer |
Latif al-Ani (born 1932, died 2021) was a famous photographer from Iraq. People often called him "the father of Iraqi photography." He was known for taking pictures that showed both old and new parts of Iraqi life.
From the 1950s to the late 1970s, he photographed how Iraq was changing. He captured images of people, ancient buildings, and city life. He stopped taking photos when Saddam Hussein came to power, because he felt less hopeful about Iraq's future.
Life and Career
Latif al-Ani was born in Baghdad in 1932. When he was a child, not many professional photographers worked in Iraq. This was partly because of social and religious rules about making pictures of people.
Because of this, it was hard for young Iraqis to learn photography. But by the late 1940s, more photo studios opened in big cities like Baghdad.
Al-Ani first saw photography up close when he helped in his older brother's shop. The shop was next to a photographer's studio. Young Al-Ani was very interested in what he saw.
Around 1947, when Al-Ani was 15, his brother bought him a camera. It was a Kodak box camera. After that, his camera was always with him.
His first photos were of everyday things around him. He took pictures of street scenes, plants, and people on rooftops. These kinds of subjects became important in his later work.
In the 1950s, Al-Ani started his photography career. A friend helped him get a job at the Iraqi Petroleum Company (IPC). In 1954, he began working there as a trainee.
He learned a lot about photography, including taking pictures from the air. He took photos for the company's magazine, Ahl al-Naf (People of Oil).
In 1960, he started the Photography Department at the Ministry of Information. At that time, he was one of the few people in Iraq who knew how to develop color photos. He hired an assistant, Halim al-Khatat, who also became a famous photographer.
His department published a magazine called New Iraq. It was printed in five languages. This magazine was given to foreign visitors and groups working in Iraq. During this time, Al-Ani traveled a lot. He photographed Iraqi social life, culture, industries, and new developments.
He wanted to show Iraq as a modern and advanced country. He also felt it was important to record how life was changing. He was proud of Iraq's ancient history, like the Sumerian and Mesopotamian cultures.
Al-Ani was good at showing Iraq's old history alongside modern life. For example, one photo shows an American couple visiting an ancient arch. In the same picture, an old Bedouin man plays a traditional instrument nearby.
In the 1960s and 70s, his work became known around the world. He worked and showed his photos in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
However, he stopped taking photos in 1979. This was when Saddam Hussein's government made it illegal to take pictures in public. It became dangerous, and Al-Ani also lost his positive feelings about Iraq's future.
After Al-Ani retired, his work was almost forgotten. In 2005, he saw a calendar with his photos, but his name wasn't on them. Later, a group called the Ruya Foundation found his collection. They worked to save Iraq's art history.
In 2017, they held an exhibition of his photos in London. A book about him was also published. These events brought a lot of new interest to his work.
Latif al-Ani passed away on November 18, 2021, in Baghdad. He was 89 years old.
His Photography Work
Most of Latif al-Ani's photos are in black and white. He was skilled at showing Iraq's ancient history together with modern scenes. This shows he was influenced by Iraqi artists like Jawad Saleem.
Sadly, many of his photos were lost or damaged during the 2003 war in Iraq. However, hundreds of his surviving photos are kept at the Arab Image Foundation.
Some of his well-known photographs include:
- Lady in the Eastern Desert
- US Couple in Ctesiphon
- Haidar-Khana Mosque, Rashid Street, Baghdad
- Building the Darbandikhan Dam
- Al Malak, Baghdad
- Architecture in Baghdad, Bab Al Muadham
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Al-Aqida secondary school, Baghdad, 1961
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Al-Rasheed Street, 1961
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Babylon, Iraq, 1970
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Coppersmith at Suq Al-Safafir, Baghdad, 1962
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Liberty Monument and Umma Park, Baghdad, 1961
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Liberty Monument, Baghdad, early 1960s
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Malwiya, Samarra, 1960
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Model, Baghdad, 1956
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Murjan Mosque, Baghdad, 1962
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Taq-i Kisra, Baghdad, 1963
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Traditional market, Baghdad, 1961
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Murjan Mosque and the Abboud Building, 1960
Legacy
Two books have been written about Latif al-Ani's work:
- Tamara Chalabi and Morad Montazami, Latif Al Ani, Hajte Cantz, 2017, ISBN: 978-3-7757-4270-2
- Hoor Al Qasimi, Kathleen Butti and Muʼassasaẗ al-Šāriqaẗ li-l-funūn, Latif Al Ani: Through the Lens, 1953-1979, Sharjah Art Foundation, 2018
See also
- History of photography
- Iraqi art
- List of Iraqi artists
