Artist Monograph

Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Mexican

Manuel Álvarez Bravo is represented by 60 works in MoMA's permanent collection, classified as mexican, with dated works spanning 1929–1977.

Mexican, 1902–2002

Authority records:
Wikidata
· Getty ULAN

Medium & Technique Profile

Primary media across the MoMA holdings

Medium	Works at MoMA	Share
Photography	51	85%
Printmaking	9	15%

Technique range

Manuel Álvarez Bravo’s MoMA holdings concentrate in Photography, with secondary engagement in Printmaking.

Collection Distribution: MoMA & The Met

Works held at MoMA

MoMA holds a substantial body of 60 works produced between 1929 and 1977 attributed to Manuel Álvarez Bravo, representing verified accession records curated by the museum’s Department of Painting and Sculpture and sister departments.

Production timeline

Dated works in these two collections span 48 years, from 1929 to 1977.

Cultural Context & Contemporaries

National context

Manuel Álvarez Bravo is catalogued under Mexican nationality, part of the broader Central America artistic tradition. See the full Mexican artists hub.

Contemporaries among Mexican artists

251
José Guadalupe Posada
works at MoMA
159
Leopoldo Méndez
works at MoMA
94
Diego Rivera
works at MoMA
79
José Luis Cuevas
works at MoMA
76
Rufino Tamayo
works at MoMA

Lifespan & active period

Lifespan: 1902–2002 (100 years). Artistic production is attributed within this window.

Catalogued Works

MoMA — 60 shown

Title	Date	Medium	Dimensions	Department	Credit line
El Sistema nervioso del gran simpático (The Sympathetic Nervous System) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.9	1929	Gelatin silver print	9 1/2 × 7 3/8" (24.1 × 18.8 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
José Clemente Orozco Photograph Acc. 363.1997	1930-1939	Gelatin silver print	6 7/16 × 9 1/2" (16.3 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Bequest of Grace M. Mayer
La tierra misma (The Earth Itself) Photograph Acc. 1603.2001	1930s	Gelatin silver print	9 9/16 × 7 5/8" (24.3 × 19.3 cm)	Photography	Thomas Walther Collection. Grace M. Mayer Fund
Maniquís riendo (Laughing Mannequins) Photograph Acc. 257.1988	1930	Gelatin silver print	7 3/8 × 9 7/16" (18.8 × 24 cm)	Photography	Purchase and partial gift of Marianna Cook
René d'Harnoncourt Photograph Acc. 310.1975	1930s	Gelatin silver print	9 3/4 × 7 11/16" (24.8 × 19.5 cm)	Photography	Anonymous gift
René d'Harnoncourt Photograph Acc. 381.1971	1930s	Gelatin silver print	9 3/4 × 7 9/16" (24.7 × 19.3 cm)	Photography	Gift of René d'Harnoncourt
Trampa puesta (Set Trap) Photograph Acc. 412.1942	1930s	Gelatin silver print	6 1/2 × 9 9/16" (16.6 × 24.3 cm)	Photography	Purchase
Trampa puesta (Set Trap) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.5	1930s	Gelatin silver print	6 3/4 × 9 7/16" (17.2 × 24 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
El ensueño (The Daydream) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.2	1931	Gelatin silver print	9 3/8 × 7 1/16" (23.8 × 17.9 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
El ensueño (The Daydream) Photograph Acc. 409.1942	1931	Gelatin silver print	9 1/16 × 5 11/16" (23 × 14.4 cm)	Photography	Anonymous gift
Escala de escalas (Ladder of Ladders) Photograph Acc. 1602.2001	1931	Gelatin silver print	9 3/8 × 7 5/16" (23.8 × 18.5 cm)	Photography	Thomas Walther Collection. Grace M. Mayer Fund
Parábola Óptica (Optical Parable) Photograph Acc. 749.1998	1931	Gelatin silver print	9 1/2 × 7 3/16" (24.1 × 18.2 cm)	Photography	The Photography Council Fund
Parábola Óptica (Optical Parable) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.8	1931	Gelatin silver print	9 5/16 × 7 1/16" (23.6 × 18 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Enterramiento en Metepec (Burial at Metepec) Photograph Acc. 747.1998	1932	Gelatin silver print	6 9/16 × 9 5/8" (16.7 × 24.4 cm)	Photography	Christie Calder Salomon Fund
El eclipse (The Eclipse) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.10	1933	Gelatin silver print	7 5/16 × 9 1/2" (18.6 × 24.1 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
La de las Bellas Artes (She of the Fine Arts) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.12	1933	Gelatin silver print	7 5/16 × 9 1/2" (18.6 × 24.1 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
La hija de los danzantes (The Daughter of the Dancers) Photograph Acc. 408.1942	1933	Gelatin silver print	9 3/16 × 6 5/8" (23.4 × 16.9 cm)	Photography	Purchase
Plática junto a la estatua (Conversation near the Statue) Photograph Acc. 213.1993	1933	Gelatin silver print	7 × 8 3/4" (17.8 × 22.2 cm)	Photography	Mr. and Mrs. Clark Winter Fund
Tumba reciente (Recent Grave) Photograph Acc. 289.1993	1933	Gelatin silver print	6 1/2 × 9 1/2" (16.6 × 24.1 cm)	Photography	Richard E. and Christie Calder Salomon Fund and Purchase
Tumba reciente (Recent Grave) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.14	1933	Gelatin silver print	6 3/4 × 9 3/4" (17.1 × 24.7 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Los agachados (The Crouched Ones) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.6	1934	Gelatin silver print	7 1/4 × 9 1/2" (18.5 × 24.1 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Los agachados (The Crouched Ones) Photograph Acc. 406.1942	1934	Gelatin silver print	7 × 9 3/8" (17.8 × 23.8 cm)	Photography	Purchase
Obrero en huelga, asesinado (Striking Worker, Assassinated) Photograph Acc. 689.1943	1934	Gelatin silver print	7 9/16 × 9 3/8" (19.2 × 23.8 cm)	Photography	Purchase
Obrero en huelga, asesinado (Striking Worker, Assassinated) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.7	1934	Gelatin silver print	7 3/8 × 9 5/8" (18.7 × 24.4 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Sed pública (Public Thirst) Photograph Acc. 413.1942	1934	Gelatin silver print	9 1/2 × 7 1/2" (24.1 × 19 cm)	Photography	Gift of Edgar Kaufmann, Jr.
Sed pública (Public Thirst) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.3	1934	Gelatin silver print	10 3/8 × 7 3/8" (26.3 × 18.8 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Los creadores, los formadores (The Creators, The Makers) Photograph Acc. 301.1968	1935	Gelatin silver print	9 7/16 × 7 5/16" (24 × 18.6 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Mujer Penandose Photograph Acc. 405.1942	1935	Gelatin silver print	9 3/16 × 6 5/8" (23.4 × 16.9 cm)	Photography	Purchase
La buena fama durmiendo (The Good Reputation Sleeping) Photograph Acc. 103.1967	1938-39	Gelatin silver print	7 1/4 × 9 5/16" (18.4 × 23.7 cm)	Photography	Purchase
La buena fama durmiendo (The Good Reputation Sleeping) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.1	1938-39	Gelatin silver print	7 3/8 × 9 5/8" (18.7 × 24.5 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Salineros en Cuyutlán 1 (Salt Workers in Cuyutlán 1) Photograph Acc. 139.1967	1938	Gelatin silver print	5 1/2 × 4 3/16" (13.9 × 10.6 cm)	Photography	Gift of the artist
Salineros en Cuyutlán 3 (Salt Workers in Cuyutlán 3) Photograph Acc. 300.1968	1938	Gelatin silver print	6 11/16 × 9 1/2" (17 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
The Unbandaged of the Aztecs. (La Desvendade de los aztecas) Photograph Acc. 56.1977	1938	Gelatin silver print	9 9/16 × 6 5/8" (24.3 × 16.9 cm)	Photography	Partial gift of Shirley C. Burden, by exchange
Peregrino en las cosas desta vida (Pilgrim among Worldly Things) Photograph Acc. 290.1993	1939	Gelatin silver print	7 1/2 × 9 3/8" (19 × 23.9 cm)	Photography	Gift of Simon Lowinsky
Retrato póstumo (Posthumous Portrait) Photograph Acc. 411.1942	1939	Gelatin silver print	9 1/16 × 6 15/16" (23 × 17.7 cm)	Photography	Gift of Edgar Kaufmann, Jr.
Día de gloria (Day of Glory) Photograph Acc. 1606.2001	1940s	Gelatin silver print	6 3/4 × 9 1/2" (17.2 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Thomas Walther Collection. Grace M. Mayer Fund
Cruce de Chalma (Crossing at Chalma) Photograph Acc. 748.1998	1942	Gelatin silver print	9 9/16 × 6 7/16" (24.3 × 16.4 cm)	Photography	Gift of Familia Alvarez Bravo y Urbajtel
Qué chiquito es el mundo (How Small the World Is) Photograph Acc. 407.1942	1942	Gelatin silver print	6 5/16 × 9 1/2" (16 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Gift of Edgar Kaufmann, Jr.
Un poco alegre y graciosa (Somewhat Gay and Graceful) Photograph Acc. 1604.2001	1942	Gelatin silver print	6 5/8 × 9 1/2" (16.9 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Thomas Walther Collection. Grace M. Mayer Fund
Un poco alegre y graciosa (Somewhat Gay and Graceful) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.11	1942	Gelatin silver print	6 15/16 × 9 5/8" (17.7 × 24.5 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Un pez que llaman sierra (A Fish Called Sierra) Photograph Acc. 1605.2001	1944	Gelatin silver print	9 1/2 × 7 1/4" (24.1 × 18.4 cm)	Photography	Thomas Walther Collection. Edward Steichen Estate and gift of Mrs. Flora S. Straus, by exchange
En el templo del tigre rojo (In the Temple of the Red Tiger) Photograph Acc. 998.1979	1949	Palladium print, printed 1978	9 3/8 × 6 3/8" (23.8 × 16.2 cm)	Photography	Gift of the artist
La mamá del bolero y el bolero (The Mother of the Shoeshine Boy and the Shoeshine Boy) Photograph Acc. 750.1998	1950s	Gelatin silver print	5 11/16 × 7 3/16" (14.5 × 18.2 cm)	Photography	The Family of Man Fund
El gran penitente (The Great Penitent) Photograph Acc. 138.1967	1954	Gelatin silver print	4 3/16 × 5 1/2" (10.6 × 13.9 cm)	Photography	Gift of the artist
La quema (Kiln) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.4	1957	Gelatin silver print	6 7/16 × 9 3/8" (16.4 × 23.8 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
La Quema dos (Kiln two) Photograph Acc. 104.1967	1957	Gelatin silver print	6 1/2 × 9 5/16" (16.6 × 23.6 cm)	Photography	Purchase
Untitled Photograph Acc. 98.1967	c. 1960	Chromogenic print	7 11/16 × 9 7/16" (19.6 × 24 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Untitled Photograph Acc. 101.1967	c. 1960	Chromogenic print	7 3/8 × 9 3/8" (18.8 × 23.8 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Cañas con las que arman redes para atrapa moscos del lago, que comen los Tzentzontles (Reeds Used for Mounting Nets to Catch Lake Flies Eaten by the Tzentzontles) Photograph Acc. 99.1967	1964	Chromogenic print	7 1/4 × 9 1/2" (18.5 × 24.1 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Sombras rojas (Red Shadows) Photograph Acc. 102.1967	c. 1964	Chromogenic print	9 1/2 × 7 5/8" (24.2 × 19.4 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Los rehiletes (The Pinwheels) Photograph Acc. 100.1967	c. 1965	Chromogenic print	7 1/2 × 9 5/8" (19 × 24.4 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
El color (The Color) Photograph Acc. 303.1968	1966	Chromogenic print	7 3/4 × 9 9/16" (19.7 × 24.3 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Untitled Photograph Acc. 302.1968	1966	Gelatin silver print	7 3/16 × 9 9/16" (18.2 × 24.3 cm)	Photography	Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa
Untitled Photograph Acc. 291.1993	1966	Chromogenic print	7 11/16 × 9 1/2" (19.6 × 24.2 cm)	Photography	Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa
Barda de panteón (Cemetery Wall) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.13	1967	Gelatin silver print	9 9/16 × 7 3/16" (24.3 × 18.3 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Paisaje inventado (Invented Landscape) Photograph Acc. 848.1978.15	1972	Gelatin silver print	11 3/8 × 14 5/16" (28.9 × 36.4 cm)	Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Fifteen Photographs by Manuel Alvarez Bravo Photograph Acc. 848.1978.1-15	1974	Fifteen gelatin silver prints		Photography	Gift of N. Carol Lipis
Coyoacan, Mexico, D.F Photograph Acc. 55.1977	1975	Gelatin silver print	7 15/16 × 9 15/16" (20.3 × 25.3 cm)	Photography	Partial gift of Shirley C. Burden, by exchange
Maguey, Muro, Nube (Agave, Wall, Cloud) Photograph Acc. 57.1977	1975	Gelatin silver print	6 5/16 × 9 7/16" (16.1 × 24 cm)	Photography	Partial gift of Shirley C. Burden, by exchange
Venus Photograph Acc. 392.1992	1977	Platinum print	6 15/16 × 9 7/16" (17.7 × 24 cm)	Photography	The Family of Man Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

How many works by Manuel Álvarez Bravo are in MoMA?

MoMA's catalogue lists 60 works attributed to Manuel Álvarez Bravo.

What medium did Manuel Álvarez Bravo primarily work in?

Based on MoMA's holdings, Manuel Álvarez Bravo's most represented medium is Photography.

What nationality is Manuel Álvarez Bravo?

Manuel Álvarez Bravo is catalogued as Mexican in MoMA's Artists index.

When were Manuel Álvarez Bravo's works created?

Dated works in MoMA + Met for Manuel Álvarez Bravo span 1929 to 1977.