Della “collezione cinematografica”

This essay investigates the conceptual and historical foundations of the film archive, focusing on the underlying intentions that have shaped its development. It traces the emergence of cinema preservation as a deliberate cultural and artistic practice, from Boleslas Matuszewski’s pioneering advocacy in the late nineteenth century to the establishment of institutional film archives in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. The essay explores how archival practices reflect broader aspirations: to preserve cinema as a historical document, to legitimize it as an art form, and to construct a shared cultural memory. By situating these initiatives within their historical and cultural contexts, the study elucidates the motivations—both practical and philosophical—behind early film preservation efforts. Ultimately, it argues that archiving cinema is not merely a technical endeavor but a conscious effort to define and safeguard its cultural value, highlighting how intention, methodology, and institutionalization intersect in the history of film archives.