When you look at the photograph below, do you say to yourself, “I think that Bravo watched French movies?” Artistic influences are often subtle. Only by carefully comparing different art forms and learning about an artist can we create the connections.
Manuel Álvarez Bravo (México, 1902-2002) Niño maya de Tulum , 1942 Photograph
Because Bravo came from a family of artists, Bravo probably saw a lot of films and art as a young person.
What French influences can we see in the photograph? The surrealists aimed to give life to ordinary things, often photographing them as intimately as they would people. Surrealists are also very interested in mythology and legends and their daily effects on us.
Jean Cocteau Le Sang d'un poète (The Blood of a Poet/La sangre de un poeta), 1930
Look at the photograph by Bravo and compare it to this still from the French movie The Blood of a Poet. How do both use lighting to create a dramatic mood? Both show people standing next to mythological symbols or statues. What are the artists saying about the past related to the present, myth and every day life?
Think about it: Given that this piece has both Mexican and French influences, how would you define it culturally? What does this say about Bravo’s identity?
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