Photography and Propaganda in the Fall of the Portuguese Empire: Volkmar Wentzel’s Assignments for National Geographic Magazine

Abstract

Although allotted the least critical attention, no European colonial empire wagered more to retain its overseas possessions than did Portugal. This endgame was played out over the longest liberation wars in Africa, alongside matching efforts to assert the exceptionalism of Portugal’s continued presence through media and culture. This chapter tackles one instance of these far-reaching international efforts deployed by the Portuguese colonial regime, placing a particular emphasis on visual culture. The focus falls on Volkmar Wentzel’s coverage of the Portuguese dictatorship for National Geographic magazine during the 1960s, as well as on the resulting exhibitions and lectures across the USA, opening a window onto the interlaced world of embassies, corporations, museums, governments and academia.