Tour Rio de Janeiro’s cultural archives on Google Arts & Culture
Rio de Janeiro, a city brimming with cultural treasures, is opening its historical archives to the world. For generations, the General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City has preserved the city's history. Now, in partnership with Google Arts & Culture, the Archive is bringing Rio's past and present to life online, making some of the rarely-seen collections available to the public.
At the heart of this initiative lies the digitization and preservation of the Paschoal Nardone collection, which comprises 124 films (over 2,000 meters of film!) showcasing Rio's transformation between the 1920s and 1940s. But there are other fascinating stories to explore, too. Here are five highlights from the collection.
The Paschoal Nardone Collection
The General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City and University Audiovisual Preservation Laboratory of UFF have digitized 124 rare film reels from the 1920s to the 1940s, revealing everyday life and historical events in Rio. These films, which were shot with a commercial camera in Brazil, are currently threatened by "vinegar syndrome," a chemical reaction that can damage film. In this story, you can watch the films as well as learn more about how these works were digitized in just weeks, and what stories and images they revealed, preserving this visual record of a city's growth.
Film reel from the Paschoal Nardone Collection, from the collection of General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Rio landmarks before and after
Witness the changing landscape of Rio de Janeiro through this collection that shows the evolution of its iconic landmarks, including the construction of Christ the Redeemer, the iconic symbol of Rio, as it rose above the city. From the shores of Copacabana to the bustling heart of the city at Largo da Carioca, see how these places transformed in the mid-1920s, laying the foundation for the city we know today.
On the left: Construction of Christ the Redeemer, from the collection of General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City. On the right: Aerial photo of Christ the Redeemer, from the collection of Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer
A pioneering domestic film camera in Brazil
The collection features films that capture both intimate moments and iconic cityscapes shot with the Pathé-Baby. This pioneering camera, developed by the French company Pathé-Frères, offered a unique glimpse into everyday life.
Still from one of the films in the Paschoal Nardone Collection, from the collection of General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Carnival celebrations
There's nothing like Rio during Carnival. Every year celebrations of this special holiday flood the city with color and vibrancy. And now you can see what Carnival was like in Rio nearly 100 years ago. Explore the diversity of costumes people were wearing and experience the Carnival Corso, a traditional celebration where people took over the streets in their cars.
Crowds in a car at a carnival procession in 1929, from the collection of General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Rio welcoming the world
Rio de Janeiro has a long history of hosting major international events, including the 1950 World Cup, the ECO-92 Earth Summit in 1992 and the 2016 Olympic Games. This November, it will welcome the G20 Summit as well.
2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium, from the collection of General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Explore the wonders of the city of Rio de Janeiro at goo.gle/rio or on the Google Arts & Culture app, available for Android and iOS.
