Mexico/New York: Alvarez Bravo, Cartier Bresson, Walker Evans
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
Mexico/New York: Alvarez Bravo, Cartier Bresson, Walker Evans Details
In 1935, an exhibition was mounted at the Julien Levy Gallery in Manhattan that united the work of three groundbreaking image makers: Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Walker Evans. Taking this historical event as its inspiration, Mexico/New Yorkfeatures work by all three photographers shot in the years leading up to the exhibition. This deluxe, limited-edition volume includes a total of 35 photographs--15 by Alvarez Bravo, 9 by Cartier-Bresson and 11 by Evans--for a poignant, pointed selection of some of the twentieth century's most recognizable and iconic images. Individual works are drawn from the collections of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the J. Paul Getty Museum and Manuel Alvarez Bravo's personal archives. Mexico/New York provides a striking, focused viewpoint into the oeuvre of three masters of visual modernism, revealing ties between New York's avant garde, Mexico's visual culture, and French Surrealism. The volume stands as well as an homage to Alvarez Bravo, Mexico's most celebrated photographer, who died recently at the age of 100.
Reviews
The French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson travelled to Mexico as a member of an expedition that planned to work on the Pan-American Highway. When the project collapsed, Cartier-Bresson decided to stay on in Mexico where he became friends with the gifted Mexican photographer Manuel Alvarez Bravo. In 1935, Mexico's principle art museum, El Palacio de Bellas Artes organized a show entitled, "Fotografias Cartier-Bresson-Alvarez Bravo." The American writer Langston Hughes wrote the text for the catalogue.When the show ended in Mexico City, the avant garde gallery owner Julien Levy brought the exhibit to New York City. Levy had the brilliant idea of adding the American photographer Walker Evans to the exhibition. Thus the works of three of great Modernist photographers of the 1930's were brought together under one roof. The photographs presented in this book have become iconic images and will be instantly familiar to students of the era.Sixty seven years after the New York show to commemorate the celebration of Alvarez Bravo's Centenary Birthday, the curators of the Palacio de Bellas Artes decided to bring the works of these three masters together once again. This book is the catalogue of that celebration. Not many art books are published in Mexico. However, when books are released, the publishers create beautiful collector's editions. This is high quality production with beautiful photographs printed on the best quality paper. This modestly priced book is a must purchase for all lovers of Modernist photography. This is a highly recommended book that will become collectable in time.
