The Holy Grail?

RPippin · Oct 21, 2010

I picked up an old issue of Aperture from '96 or '98 that featured a photographer I had not heard of by the name of Manuel Alvarez Bravo. I was more than just a little impressed with his images. If anyone else isn't familiar with his work I would suggest looking him up. Aperture magazine still have copies fro back order of his for about $20.00, and well worth the price. The printing is done in Italy and the whole magazine is devoted to him with lots of great prints. I bought another copy. Would love to hear other comments about his work. Powerful stuff!!!

MaximusM3 · Oct 21, 2010

Yes! Bravo is an iconic figure in Mexican photography and unfortunately not one of those who gets appreciated often enough. Great website here to follow how his work has evolved over the years. http://www.manuelalvarezbravo.org

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 21, 2010

If you want to see some of his work in person, take a trip up to New York and visit the Throckmorton gallery - they specialize in 20th century Latin American photographers and usually have some of his prints on hand.

mike c · Oct 21, 2010

Very eye opening RPippin.

ic-racer · Oct 21, 2010

I was a subscriber back then and I learned of him through that same issue (#147).

Jeff Kubach · Oct 25, 2010

I enjoy his work!

Jeff

Marco B · Oct 25, 2010

MaximusM3 said:
Yes! Bravo is an iconic figure in Mexican photography and unfortunately not one of those who gets appreciated often enough. Great website here to follow how his work has evolved over the years. http://www.manuelalvarezbravo.org

Actually, I see little development, or maybe better said change, in his work over the years... I think he found his own personal style early on and stuck with it throughout most of his life time. Nothing wrong with that by the way , and I enjoyed watching it.

Casey Kidwell · Oct 25, 2010

Marco B said:
Actually, I see little development, or maybe better said change, in his work over the years... I think he found his own personal style early on and stuck with it throughout most of his life time. Nothing wrong with that by the way , and I enjoyed watching it.

I thought the same thing. I'm familiar with his work but I've never seen a chronological breakdown of it. I was expecting to see stylistic changes also as well as reflecting changing technology. Nope. It's obviously a conscious decision. I would like to hear his comments about this if any exist.

RPippin · Oct 25, 2010

You can order the magazine from Aperture for about $20.00, and well worth it. The insights into his work and life are articulated very well in this. The prints are also top shelf. Sometimes doing one thing masterfully can take a lifetime. There is so much more to his work than technique and style. For me, he seems to capture the very soul of the vision he had before he fired the shutter. I don't want to get to mental about his work, they are moving and haunting to me. It gave me goose bumps when I saw the images, and I kept them by my bed to look at them when I woke up to see if they still had such a forceful impact. They did. I truly have not looked at my work or anyone else work quite the same since.

MaximusM3 · Oct 25, 2010

Marco B said:
Actually, I see little development, or maybe better said change, in his work over the years... I think he found his own personal style early on and stuck with it throughout most of his life time. Nothing wrong with that by the way , and I enjoyed watching it.

Yes, Marco, I guess "change" is the more appropriate word. He certainly did retain his style.

eddym · Oct 25, 2010

I saw an exhibition of his work in MOMA a few years ago and loved it. But this http://masters-of-photography.com/A/alvarez_bravo/alvarez_bravo_eternal_full.html is my absolute favorite photo of his. I stood transfixed in front of it for about half an hour! At last I tore myself away and viewed the rest of the exhibition, then returned to this one to stare at it some more. I had what I call an epiphanic experience; that is, I was absolutely transfixed by a work of art.
When my wife dragged me out of the exhibit hall, we went to the MOMA bookshop where I found and purchased the book from the exhibition.

2F/2F · Oct 25, 2010

I first saw his work in person here at the Norton Simon Museum. Great stuff! His ex wife Lola Alvarez Bravo wasn't so bad either!

RPippin · Oct 25, 2010

How cool, Eddy. That is the exact image that captured me as well. Do you know if it is still at the MOMA? I would probably take the train to N.Y., just to see it up close. What size is it? I wish I could find a print of this image to hang at home. It reminds me of Goya.

fdisilvestro · Oct 27, 2010

He received the Hasselblad Award in 1984

eddym · Oct 27, 2010

RPippin said:
How cool, Eddy. That is the exact image that captured me as well. Do you know if it is still at the MOMA? I would probably take the train to N.Y., just to see it up close. What size is it? I wish I could find a print of this image to hang at home. It reminds me of Goya.

I don't think so; that was several years ago, and it was a special exhibition of his work. They may still have the exhibition book available, though. It was beautifully printed, and shows every print in the exhibition.

The Holy Grail?

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