Visual culture in Malta as a mirror and an agent of change : from Italian unification to Maltese independence

Abstract

imperial ideals. The influence permeated many aspects of Maltese imagery, especially architecture, public monuments, and other forms of state-sponsored art.8 These competing influences resulted in a distinct visual lexicon in Malta, reflecting the island’s efforts to assert its identity in the face of external pressures and internal changes. Visual art served not only as a form of creative expression but also as a means of encoding and contesting the era’s complex realities. Fine art and popular imagery became sites for subtle and profound debates about belonging, authority, and cultural resilience. Malta’s imagery reflects these interactions, providing insights into how art can serve as a bridge between competing traditions and ideologies. In Malta, the visual arts functioned as a dynamic space where external pressures met local traditions, resulting in works that absorbed, resisted, and transformed these influences. [...]