Fotografia, memória e corpo: um olhar para o projeto Fresco Mulher

Abstract

This theoretical and practical research investigates photography as a tool for the symbolic reconstruction of female identity, through the analysis of photographic essays conducted with women in the Fresco Mulher project. The study is grounded in the understanding that the body is a social and cultural construction shaped by normative discourses, as proposed by Le Breton (2006) and Mauss (2003). Adopting a qualitative and exploratory approach, and supported by authors such as Hall (2003), Butler (2003) and Goldenberg (2007), the research discusses identity, gender performance, and the representation of the female body in images. Drawing on a theoretical framework that considers photography as both a memory device (Sontag, 1977; Kossoy, 2001) and a medium of subjective expression, this work examines the impact of images on women’s self-esteem and self-image. The memorial involves three photographic essays; participant selection was based on age, diversity, and individual motivations for seeking the photographic experience. The analysis takes into account both the aesthetic choices of photography and the participants’ reflections and reactions after receiving the photographs. Authors such as Gurgel (2021), Ribeiro (2025) and Braga (2006) help to understand how the photographic essay can transcend the aesthetic sphere, assuming therapeutic, political, and subjective roles. Thus, photography is configured not only as a visual representation but also as a process of listening, welcoming, and reconnection with one’s own identity. In this context, the female photographic essay emerges as a space of empowerment and symbolic reconstruction.