Lola Álvarez Bravo (1907–1993) is one of Mexico’s most important photographers. Her photographs document the condition of Mexico’s people, cities, and villages. Her portraits candidly capture the life and personality of many, including fellow artists, intellectuals, and also, the indigenous and poor. Through her work, she expresses her values and critique to Mexican society of the early 1900s.

Life

Born as Dolores Concepción Martínez in 1907, Lola Álvarez Bravo grew up in Jalisco, Mexico. She was born into a wealthy family, but was soon after orphaned, forcing her to relocate with other relatives. In her youth, she met Manuel Álvarez Bravo and married him in 1925. The couple was sent to Oaxaca where she and Manuel began to develop their photography. Through this, Lola Álvarez Bravo was introduced to the camera, the darkroom, and photography techniques. The area’s poverty elicited feelings of compassion from Lola Álvarez Bravo which is expressed in her work and sets it apart from Manuel’s more formal images. Together, the couple had a son Manuel and opened a photography gallery in Mexico City. They became friends with many notable figures, including artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo. Lola Álvarez Bravo and Manuel Álvarez Bravo separated in 1934 and divorced in 1949. Lola continued to use her photography and teaching as a means to support herself. She continued her photography work until the late 1980s, but was forced to give it up due to her failing eyesight. On July 31, 1993 in Mexico City, Mexico, Lola Álvarez Bravo passed away. 

Gallery

Gallery • 6 Photos

"Ruth Rivera Marín" (The Center for Creative Photography, Univeristy of Arizona)

Legacy

Lola Álvarez Bravo is remembered by her incredible ability to encapsulate the life and beauty of different subjects. She is also recognized for her strength in being a woman photographer. During her times, women artists were supposed to be confined to their studios and not on the streets. Despite this, Lola continued to work in the public and amongst the people, displaying her courage and true passion for photography. Her studies capture the activity and culture of Mexican people and provide an important contribution to the history of photography. Today, her work is held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and others. 

Quote

“I was the only woman fooling around with a camera in the streets and all the reporters laughed at me. So I became a fighter.” – Lola Álvarez Bravo