Manuel Alvarez Bravo

Photographer Manuel Alvarez Bravo was born in downtown Mexico City on February 4, 1902. For a short period of time he studied literature, music, and painting at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes de San Carlos in 1918. His basic formation was acquired from a family friend who gave him a camera; Alvarez acquired his own camera after he met German photographer Hugo Brehme in 1923 from who he learned different techniques. Brehme introduced Alvarez to remarkable artists such as Wilhem Kahlo, father of the famous painter Frida Kahlo with along other artists such as Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente Orozco that were part of the Mexican-Renaissance.

After the Mexican Revolution, Alvarez focused on Mexico City landscape by photographing the city life. During this period of time he captured one of his most famous photographs, the Striking Worker Assassinated, 1934. Another of the most remarkable photos is the Good Reputation Sleeping that was created after André Breton asked him to create a photograph for the cover of an exhibition catalog. Last Alvarez’s works were made in his studio and backyard due to problems he had to continue traveling.

Alvarez had the ability to frame the most beautiful and clever photos through his camera. His work was not meant to make him a hero, his work was a way to show the world the reality of a country with social relationship and financial issues.