Mexican photographer Manuel Álvarez Bravo, considered one of the foremost Latin American photographers of the 20th century, is celebrated for his iconic, dreamlike portrayals of the Mexican working class, as well as his surreal still lifes. His poetic imagery, emerging in the late 1920s, masterfully captured the intricate interplay between Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage and the rapid advancements of modern life, illustrating the social contradictions and apparent discontinuities of his time.

A self-taught artist, Álvarez Bravo found early recognition when he won first prize at a local photography competition in Oaxaca in 1925. As Mexico City was establishing itself as a vibrant hub for international artistic and intellectual exchange, Álvarez Bravo aligned himself with the international avant-garde, connecting with artists such as Tina Modotti, Edward Weston, and the surrealists. This period marked his engagement with modernity, paired with a deep search for a unique Mexican identity.

In 1930, Álvarez Bravo succeeded Modotti as the photographer for Mexican Folkways magazine, further cementing his place in Mexico’s artistic community. His collaborations with influential Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros.—were instrumental in shaping the visual landscape of the era. Over his nearly eighty-year career, Álvarez Bravo held more than 150 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows, earning international acclaim. In 1997, the Museum of Modern Art in New York organized a major retrospective of his work, solidifying his legacy as one of the defining photographers of his generation.