Imaginarios y fotografía en México 1839–1970 (Imageries and Photography in Mexico 1839–1970)

By staff -- Críticas, 5/1/2007

Because Mexican photography has often been closely linked to the surrealist movement, owing in part to the country’s lush desert backdrops and magical-looking flora, investigating its historical context is certainly pertinent. In this work, four scholars outline the history of Mexican photography. The book is divided into four sections, each a historical and informative essay by one of the scholars considering a roughly 30-year period of Mexican photography as a different way of looking through the lens. Since the sections are chronological, there is always mention of how the technology was changing. But the authors go beyond the technical, discussing social reaction to photography and how it gave way to another way of viewing daily changes and events. The final section offers a detailed, side-by-side graph correlating events in Mexico’s history with what was happening in photography at that time. The featured photography is a real treat that includes both familiar images, such as the incredibly rich photography of Manuel Alvarez Bravo, and more obscure and interesting photographs, such as an image by Juan Antonio Azurmendi of his three daughters wearing uncanny-looking masks. Since the subject matter spans over 130 years, there is a wide variety of different types of images and photo processes. In the end, the authors show that Mexican photography is a complex phenomenon documenting historical events and the growing pains of modernity while revealing the artistry of the photographer's eye. A good addition for an art school or academic library.—Laura Torres, Art & Art History Slide Lib., Tufts Univ.