Martin Chambi (from an essay by Edward Ranney, 1978):

Martin Chambi was a relatively isolated photographer who worked in Cuzco, Peru, from 1920 until his death in 1973. His life and accomplishments represent a unique combination of historical, cultural and aesthetic considerations that are of unusual significance in regard to the history of photography in Latin America. With the exception of Manuel Alvarez Bravo, whose personal, surrealist vision developed in the surge of artistic expression in Mexico during the 1920s and 30s, there are few names of other Latin American photographers which come to mind as representing major bodies of significant aesthetic or documentary work.

Recent research, however, has shown there to be a rich tradition of photography in Latin America, beginning only a few years after its invention, with particularly interesting work having been done during the nineteenth century in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Peru. Martin Chambi’s work is especially important in this regard because it represents both the culmination of the natural-light studio operation dating from the nineteenth century and the emergence of an outstanding contemporary photographer who assumed the role of documentarian for the native highland culture of which he was a part. [Read More..] view more images [Here] Chance of a free poster [Here]