The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of August 16, 2026

A rectangular, matte black cloth-bound portfolio box is shown at an angle, revealing depth along its bottom and right edges. Centered on the lid, five lines of white outline text in a rounded, undulating font read, "Fifteen Photographs by Manuel Alvarez Bravo." The stacked letters stagger slightly, creating a sense of movement against the dark, textured surface. This horizontal composition emphasizes the centered, stylized typography.

Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Fifteen Photographs

1929–72, printed 1974

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

(Mexican, 1902–2002)
Mexico
12 gelatin silver prints
Gift of Alan and Monah L. Gettner 2023.197
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

It is the artist’s personal outlook and cultural heritage that unify the disparate subjects photographed by Manuel Alvarez Bravo.

Description

Manuel Alvarez Bravo sought to represent the viewpoint of Mexico’s Indigenous cultural heritage and its peasants as he chronicled their encounter with the country’s rapid modernization. His work is often considered Surrealist, but he never formally identified with that art movement. The odd juxtapositions, occasional humor, and quixotic viewpoint of his images may derive from growing up in a culture that contains both Indigenous and European traditions.
  • ?–2023
    Monah Gettner, Hyperion Press, Ltd., New York, NY, given to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    December 4, 2023–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Fifteen Photographs|url=false|author=Manuel Álvarez Bravo|year=1929–72, printed 1974|access-date=16 August 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.197