Carmela Buhagiar née Meilak was a pioneering Maltese photographer, recognised as the first professional female photographer in Malta during the 20th century.

In the early 20th century, women in Malta were still largely confined to domestic duties, cooking, and childbearing. Many lived alone as their husbands emigrated to work or sought employment in distant lands. However, an exceptional example of a woman from Nadur who stood out and achieved success in the field of photography is Carmela Buhagiar née Meilak.

Photography in Malta began shortly after the invention of this art form, which emerged simultaneously in England and France in 1839. The art form was introduced to Malta by British and French photographers visiting the island during these early years. The first photography studios opened around 1849 in Valletta, Floriana, and the Cottonera area. The largest concentration of studios was located in Strada Stretta, due to the commercial activity generated by the many British ships anchored in the Grand Harbour. Among the many male photographers of that era, there were two English women: the wife of photographer James Conroy and a certain Mrs. Harrison. However, no Maltese female photographers from that time are documented.

In Gozo, the art and practice of photography emerged in the early 20th century, mainly through Michele Farrugia (1878–1957) from Xagħra, known as Mastru Mikiel il-Badiku. He was considered the leading photographer in Gozo. Initially, Michele was a schoolteacher in Xagħra, Xewkija, Ta’ Sannat, and Żebbuġ. He served as a school principal in Xewkija and Żebbuġ but never taught in Nadur.

The family history of Carmela is intriguing and closely linked to that of Michele Farrugia. When the church in Nadur was being expanded (1907–1914), Dun Martin commissioned Michele to document the construction through photography. Since Michele frequently visited Nadur, he rented a large premises in the town square, where the Camilleri family Ta’ Pasqualino later lived, and where a supermarket now stands. Michele also captured numerous portraits of the public.

When Michele fell ill, he was assisted by a woman named Pawla Tat-Zajkutt, who owned a wine shop in the square. Due to her business obligations, Pawla recommended Grezzja Meilak, Carmela’s mother, to take over the work. Grezzja and her husband Carmelo, who hailed from Qala, lived at 105, Triq Xandriku, where Martin Camilleri Tas-Surgent now resides. Carmelo was a stonemason who had carved the house himself.

Around 1925, Michele left Nadur and rented a large house belonging to the Montanaro Gauci family in Rabat, at 55, Enrico Mizzi Street, opposite the Dominican Sisters’ Convent. Some years later, Grezzja, along with her two daughters, Marija and Carmela, moved in with Michele in Rabat, as her husband had emigrated to Australia. Marija remained single and died at 55.

From a young age, Michele trained Carmela in photography, and she eventually started assisting him in his work. Meanwhile, Michele’s beloved, Victoria Buhagiar, had a nephew named Joseph Buhagiar, who also helped Michele with photography. Interestingly, Victoria, who lived in Piazza Reale, Casale Caccia (now Piazza Vittorja, Xagħra), contracted influenza during the first week of the pandemic. Through photography, Joseph – commonly known as Guzi – met Carmela, and they eventually married.

Michele and Victoria never married, possibly to prevent Victoria from losing her government job. She was a primary school teacher in Mellieħa and later in Xagħra, eventually becoming a Senior Mistress at the Żebbuġ Primary School in Gozo. At the time, the annual salary for a Senior Mistress was £40. Victoria died in 1938, and Michele passed away 19 years later.

Guzi and Carmela, along with their three daughters – Jane, Carmen, and Marie Louise – lived in Rabat at No. 24, Piazza Savina, which was both Michele’s residence and his studio, known as Casa Bottega. Carmela continued to work professionally in photography and is regarded as the first professional female photographer in Malta during the 20th century. She passed away in January 2008.

To commemorate the anniversary of her birth, Maltapost issued a set of stamps dedicated to Carmela Buhagiar in 2020, as part of a commemorative initiative supported by her daughter Jane Bonnici Buhagiar, researcher Robert Louis Grech, and designer Anthony Grech.

This biographical information was translated and adapted from an article originally published in Maltese in the publication 'Luminaria' (Issue 135, June 2021), with additional research to enhance the content.