Visions of Mexico and the Netherlands. Manuel Álvarez Bravo | Bob Schalkwijk

Invitación a la muestra “Visiones de México y Holanda. Manuel Álvarez Bravo | Bob Schalkwijk

The Manuel Álvarez Bravo House-Archive presents “Visions of Mexico and the Netherlands,” an exhibition that brings together the work of Manuel Álvarez Bravo and Bob Schalkwijk, two photographers who, from different geographies, have built a visual and emotional bridge between Mexico and the Netherlands.

Bob Schalkwijk, a Dutch photographer based in Mexico since 1959, has traveled throughout the country for decades, sensitively documenting its landscapes, towns, and traditions. His foreign gaze—deeply empathetic—has become integrated into the cultural heart of Mexico. For his part, Álvarez Bravo visited the Netherlands in 1959 to supervise the printing of the book Pintura Mural de la Revolución Mexicana. Though brief, his stay left a visible mark on his work, shaped by curiosity and wonder in the face of difference.

Both photographers share a humanistic vision and a commitment to documenting the cultural richness of peoples. This exhibition celebrates their legacy and the dialogue between their images as a testament to the enduring bond between two nations.

The exhibition “Visions of Mexico and the Netherlands” opened on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Casa MAB, and was open to the public from May through August 2025.