Martín Chambi

Martín Chambi Jiménez (1891-1973) stands as a titan of Latin American photography, fundamentally changing the medium’s scope and representation in the early 20th century. Born in Puno, Southern Peru, Chambi distinguished himself as one of the first major Indigenous photographers whose work transcended commercial demands to achieve serious artistic standing on the international stage.

Chambi established his highly influential professional studio in Cuzco, the cultural and historic center of the Andes, during a period of intense social and technological flux. From this base, he created a vast and comprehensive visual archive of the region, ranging from monumental archaeological studies to intimate, penetrating portraits. His technical mastery of large-format glass plates allowed him to capture minute details while lending an imposing dignity to every subject. His work skillfully balanced the documentation of Cuzco’s emerging elite, as seen in the commissioned portrait Señora Montes, Montes House, Cuzco, with candid and rigorous depictions of everyday street life, such as Policeman with Boy, Cuzco.

He possessed a remarkable sensitivity to his subjects, capturing the subtle class dynamics and cultural juxtapositions of the era with an almost anthropological precision. This dual focus is evident in works like Chicha and Sapo, Cuzco, which frames a traditional social game and its participants with dignity, contrasting starkly with the documentation of modernity seen in the study of aviation pioneer Alejandro Velasco Astete, Cuzco Aviator. Studio portraits like Juan de la Cruz Sihuana, Cuzco Studio further exemplify his mastery of composition, treating sitters, whether elite or commoner, with equally rigorous attention.

Chambi’s achievement ensures that the visual history of the Andean world is represented from an insider perspective, moving definitively away from colonial ethnographic stereotypes. His catalogue of work, held in major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), is a crucial subject of contemporary scholarship. Today, many of his photographs, including powerful Martín Chambi prints, have entered the public domain, ensuring they remain globally accessible as high-quality prints for curators, historians, and admirers alike.