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Details / Information for El sistema nervioso del gran simpatico

Series Title: Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Fifteen Photographs

El sistema nervioso del gran simpatico

1929, printed 1974

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

(Mexican, 1902–2002)
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Culture
Mexico
Medium
gelatin silver print
Credit Line
Gift of Alan and Monah L. Gettner 2023.197.5
Edition
Edition of 75 with 15 artist's proofs
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

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.
A vertically oriented black-and-white photograph depicts a collage of a vintage corset advertisement. Several light-skinned women in undergarments frame the composition alongside prices and text like "Our Reducing Corsets." Centered and secured by four pushpins is an anatomical drawing of a human torso in profile, facing right. The diagram reveals internal structures including the spine, heart, and digestive system, partially obscuring the illustrated women behind it.

El sistema nervioso del gran simpatico

1929, printed 1974

Manuel Álvarez Bravo

(Mexican, 1902–2002)
Mexico

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