The Man from Papantla
| Artist | Manuel Alvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902–2002) |
|---|---|
| Title | The Man from Papantla (Señor de Papantla) |
| Plate Number | Plate 8 |
| Series | Photographs of Manuel Alvarez Bravo |
| Date | 1934–1935, published 1977 |
| Medium | Gelatin silver print |
| Dimensions | Image: 9 5/16 x 7 1/4 in. (23.7 x 18.4 cm) Sheet: 10 1/16 x 8 in. (25.6 x 20.3 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Dr. Francis E. McAree, Jr., Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 81.73.8 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
A young man with bare feet is standing against a stone wall. His arms are crossed and he holds a straw hat and bag. Patterns of sunlight and shadow are visible on the wall behind him.
Influenced by the Mexican muralists, European Surrealists, and the American modernist photographers Paul Strand and Edward Weston, Manuel Alvarez Bravo became Latin America’s first artistic photographer. He used unusual juxtapositions, cropping, and lighting to imbue his pictures with a sense of mystery. Even in his more documentary images, such as this portrait of an indigenous man, there is often an ironic twist or subtle social commentary. Among his favorite subjects were aspects of everyday Mexican life—its people, places, rituals, and folk art. By focusing on the ordinary in a new way, Alvarez Bravo made it seem extraordinary and almost magical.
Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art’s collection includes the complete portfolio (Eskenazi Museum of Art 81.73.1–.15).
| Publisher | Acorn Editions Ltd. |
|---|
| Plate Number | Plate 8 |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Photographs of Manuel Alvarez Bravo |
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"The Man from Papantla | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=81.73.8