The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 30, 2026

A vertical off-white paper features two distinct blocks. On the left, large gray letters with rounded, undulating curves spell "Fifteen Photographs by Manuel Alvarez Bravo." To the right, a dense justified block of muted reddish-brown text provides a French preface, with smaller capital letters below. Wide margins frame the composition, creating a clean graphic balance between the bold, fluid title and the dense, delicate column of text.

Preface by André Breton, French

1978

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

(Mexican, 1902–2002)
Mexico
text page
Gift of Alan and Monah L. Gettner 2023.197.2
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=Preface by André Breton, French|url=false|author=Manuel Álvarez Bravo|year=1978|access-date=30 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.197.2