Figure 1.--This is one of Abel Briquet's photographs probably taken about 1890 for sale to tourists. It shows the family of a Mexican ranchero near Cordoba in Vera Cruz. We see mother, grand mother, children, and perhaps some aunts. Rancho means that the father, who for some reason is absent, actually owned land. Most Mexicans did not and were landless peasants. Most of the land was primarily in hands of a few families--hacendados who owned huge estates. This was what Madero's attempt at modest reformns into a massive social revolution.

Photography was a largely European and American innovation. But studio and other photographic activity soon began in Latin America, including Mexico. Art is usually associated with economic success. Mexico until recently was not one of the most affluent of he 30 or so Latin American countries. Here until recently we are mostly talking about the Southern Cone. But in the visual arts that Mexico has shined. Interesting this began at an early point in Meso-America. Bu this is also true in own modern times, even though Mexico until engaging with capitalism, democracy, and the United States was not very affluent county (1990s). Even so there has been a explosion of creativity in the visual art. Mexican art was dominated by the muralists who produced stunning creations. Mexico has also stood out in he field of photography. The first photographs taken in Mexico as in many other countries appeared shortly after Frenchman Louis Daguerre invented modern photography--the Daguerreotype (1839). Early Mexican photographic types, both the Daguerreotype and the Ambrotype, however, are very rare. And our Mexican archive overall is small. Thus we have no such examples. It was not until the French Intervention (1864–67) that any substantial numbers of photographs become available. This primarily meant albumen prints like the CDV at first and then cabinet cards. The CDV was another French innovation. Photography in the 19th century was mostly studio portraits, but the country's poverty and small middle-class as in other Latin American countries limited the size of the resulting 19th century photographic record. Important photographers whose interest in photography went beyond the studio were Charles B. Waite, Abel Briquet, Guillermo Kahlo, and William Henry Jackson,. They often focused more on the landscape, buildings, and engineering projects more than the people which is what our website primarily deals with. They did, however, record some interesting real life scenes in the era before point and shoot cameras were readily available. We notice Briquet taking photographs for sale to tourists, including scenes of Mexican families and daily life. Jackson is one of the most important American photographers of the Old West, but he recorded some Mexican scenes as well. Photographers such as Agustín Victor Casasola and Kahlo commonly recorded ceremonial occasions, especially buildings and public works. With advances in half-tone technology, newspaper owner Rafael Reyes Spíndola reproduced the first photographs in Mexican newspapers (1896). And reproduction quality rapidly improved. Porfirio Díaz used photography to record the achievements of the Porfiriato, but the beginning of photojournalism recorded the fall of Díaz. We have not found a lot of images until the Mexican Revolution. The explosion of photojournalism has allowed us to build one of the larger websites on the Mexican Revolution (1911-20). The various Revolutionary leaders were quick to seize opportunities to publicize their exploits. Here Pancho Villa was standout for a time. Occurring at about the same time as World War I in Europe, the era was the precursor of modern war photography. The Mexican Revolution began first which means the process began in Mexico (1911). The undisputed photographer of the Revolution was Casasola. Casasola benefited from one of the great historical events of the 20th century. In terms of raw creativity, very few photographers can match Manuel Alvarez Bravo, one of the most important Latin American photographers. Alvarez Bravo was an entirely self-taught photographer. He set out to portray the 'cultural heritage, peasant population, and indigenous roots of the Mexican people' and did so brilliantly. Hugo Brehme also recorded many important images of the Revolution. A modern photographer is Rafael Doniz. He has created many beautiful images of traditional Mexico just as it was beginning to develop a modern economy. Mexico is one of the larger Latin American countries and increasing prosperity in recent years has resulted in a corresponding expansion of photograph and the photographic record. This has especially meant digital photography. Unfortunately, our website has attracted relatively few Latin American readers in contrast to Europe and even Asia. So our Latin American pages, including Mexico are limited. Reader contributions are an important part of building our website.

Latin American Visual Art

Photography was a largely European and American innovation. But studio and other photographic activity soon began in Latin America, including Mexico. Art is usually associated with economic success. Mexico until recently was not one of the most affluent of he 30 or so Latin American countries. Here until recently we are mostly talking about the Southern Cone. But in the visual arts that Mexico has shined.

Meso-American Art

Interesting this began at an early point in Meso-America.

Colonial Era

Mexican Republic

Mexico's embrace of the visual arts is also true in own modern times, even though Mexico until engaging with capitalism, democracy, and the United States was not very affluent county (1990s). Even so there has been a explosion of creativity in the visual art. Mexican art was dominated by the muralists who produced stunning creations. Mexico has also stood out in he field of photography. The first photographs taken in Mexico as in many other countries appeared shortly after Frenchman Louis Daguerre invented modern photography--the Daguerreotype (1839). Early Mexican photographic types, both the Daguerreotype and the Ambrotype, however, are very rare. And our Mexican archive overall is small. Thus we have no such examples. It was not until the French Intervention (1864–67) that any substantial numbers of photographs become available. This primarily meant albumen prints like the CDV at first and then cabinet cards. The CDV was another French innovation. Photography in the 19th century was mostly studio portraits, but the country's poverty and small middle-class as in other Latin American countries limited the size of the resulting 19th century photographic record. Important photographers whose interest in photography went beyond the studio were Charles B. Waite, Abel Briquet, Guillermo Kahlo, and William Henry Jackson,. They often focused more on the landscape, buildings, and engineering projects more than the people which is what our website primarily deals with. They did, however, record some interesting real life scenes in the era before point and shoot cameras were readily available. We notice Briquet taking photographs for sale to tourists, including scenes of Mexican families and daily life. Jackson is one of the most important American photographers of the Old West, but he recorded some Mexican scenes as well. Photographers such as Agustín Victor Casasola and Kahlo commonly recorded ceremonial occasions, especially buildings and public works. With advances in half-tone technology, newspaper owner Rafael Reyes Spíndola reproduced the first photographs in Mexican newspapers (1896). And reproduction quality rapidly improved. Porfirio Díaz used photography to record the achievements of the Porfiriato, but the beginning of photojournalism recorded the fall of Díaz. We have not found a lot of images until the Mexican Revolution. The explosion of photojournalism has allowed us to build one of the larger websites on the Mexican Revolution (1911-20). The various Revolutionary leaders were quick to seize opportunities to publicize their exploits. Here Pancho Villa was standout for a time. Occurring at about the same time as World War I in Europe, the era was the precursor of modern war photography. The Mexican Revolution began first which means the process began in Mexico (1911). The undisputed photographer of the Revolution was Casasola. Casasola benefited from one of the great historical events of the 20th century. In terms of raw creativity, very few photographers can match Manuel Alvarez Bravo, one of the most important Latin American photographers. Alvarez Bravo was an entirely self-taught photographer. He set out to portray the 'cultural heritage, peasant population, and indigenous roots of the Mexican people' and did so brilliantly. Hugo Brehme also recorded many important images of the Revolution. A modern photographer is Rafael Doniz. He has created many beautiful images of traditional Mexico just as it was beginning to develop a modern economy. Mexico is one of the larger Latin American countries and increasing prosperity in recent years has resulted in a corresponding expansion of photograph and the photographic record. This has especially meant digital photography. Unfortunately, our website has attracted relatively few Latin American readers in contrast to Europe and even Asia. So our Latin American pages, including Mexico are limited. Reader contributions are an important part of building our website.

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Created: May 2, 2004
Last updated: 3:17 AM 11/28/2024