Mexican, 1902–2002
Manuel Alvarez Bravo
490results on record
63%sell-through
$5,293median result (USD, incl. premium; 99% observed, 1% estimated from hammer)
$312,793record in our coverage
Drawn from 490 recorded results (394 sold · 96 passed) across 16 auction houses, 1998–2026. 6 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 99% observed, 1% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.
Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.
By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median result (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| photography | 296 | 78% | $5,375 |
| other | 15 | 67% | $12,841 |
| works on paper | 3 | n/a | $10,077 |
Medium is recorded for 314 of 490 results (64%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Henri Cartier-bresson Manuel Alvarez Bravo Henri Cartier-bresson
| Metric | Manuel Alvarez Bravo | Henri Cartier-bresson |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $5,293 | $9,375 |
| Record price | $312,793 | $265,000 |
| Results on record | 490 | 1,767 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Henri Cartier-bressonAnsel AdamsEdward WestonAndré Kertész
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
65/ 100
- Sell-through63%
- Meets estimate53%
- Market depth490 results
How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →
Where this artist sells best
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie's | 132 | 100% | $5,927 | — |
| Sotheby's | 109 | 60% | $7,800 | 0.80× |
| Heritage Auctions | 72 | 76% | $2,750 | — |
| Phillips | 57 | 70% | $8,158 | — |
| Bonhams | 87 | 45% | $3,200 | 0.80× |
| Lempertz | 7 | 71% | $3,473 | — |
| Grisebach | 5 | — | $3,587 | — |
| Rago | 4 | 100% | $2,540 | — |
| Freeman's | Hindman | 4 | 75% | $1,600 | 0.45× |
| Chiswick Auctions | 2 | 100% | $1,860 | — |
| Artcurial | 1 | — | $7,642 | 1.10× |
| Wright | 2 | 50% | $3,750 | — |
| Lyon & Turnbull | 1 | 100% | $5,894 | 1.44× |
| Galerie Bassenge | 1 | — | $569 | — |
| Finarte | 4 | 25% | $5,077 | 0.88× |
| Dorotheum | 2 | 50% | $1,431 | — |
The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →
Prices realized 496 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 96 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2012·10 | 'Los Obstáculos' | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·10 | Los Agachados | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·10 | 'Untitled' (Landscape with Upturned Boat) | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·05 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $6,375–$9,562 | Christie's | ||
| 2012·05 | Untitled (Mexico) | Gelatin silver, printed later | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2012·04 | 'la buena fama durmiendo' | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·04 | Escalera con barandal (Stairs with railing) | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·04 | Los Agachados | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·11 | Portrait de l'Éternel, Mexico | Gelatin silver, printed later | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2011·11 | Los Agachados (The Crouched Ones) | Gelatin silver, 1974 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2011·11 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo (The Good Reputation Sleeping) | Gelatin silver, 1974 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2011·11 | El Ensueno (The Daydream) | Gelatin silver, 1974 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2011·11 | Sed Publica (Public Thirst) | Gelatin silver, 1974 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2011·11 | retrato postumo (portrait posthume/ posthumous portrait), 1939 | $54,600–$81,900 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·10 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·10 | el ensueño | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·04 | 'fifteen photographs' | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·12 | El Umbral (Threshold) Mexico | Gelatin silver, p... | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2010·11 | Fruta prohibida, Mexico. 1976 | Platin-Abzug auf Bütten, 1997–2002 | $3,996–$5,328 | Grisebach | ||
| 2010·11 | portrait de l'éternel, mexico 1935 | $95,718–$123,066 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·10 | Los Agachados | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·06 | Trabajadores del trópico (Workers of the Tropics), 1943-1944<... | — | Heritage Auctions | |||
| 2010·04 | El Ensueno | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·12 | Instrumental, 1931 | platinum print, printed later | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·11 | Obrero en Huelga asesinado. 1934 | Later gelatin silver print | $3,014–$4,521 | Grisebach | ||
| 2009·11 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1939 | gelatin silver print, printed before 1980 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·11 | retrato postumo, 1939 | $14,815–$22,222 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·10 | Selected Nude Studies | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·10 | frida kahlo | $6,000–$8,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·10 | 'la hija de los danzantes' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·10 | 'parábola optica' | $6,000–$8,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·10 | la buena fama durmiendo | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·09 | good reputation sleeping, 1931 | $5,913–$8,870 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·09 | banana boat, années 1930 | $4,435–$7,392 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·04 | Fruta Prohibida | Gelatin silver, printed later | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2009·03 | Selected Nude Images | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·03 | selected images of mexico | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·03 | 'Fifteen Photographs' | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·03 | selected images of mexico | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·03 | selected images of mexico | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·12 | El Umbral (Threshold) Mexico | Silver gelatin | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2008·10 | selected images from 'Fifteen Photographs' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | The Daydream, 1931 | $5,848–$9,746 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | The Daughter of the Dancers, 1933 | $5,848–$9,746 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | The Dreamer, 1931 | $5,848–$7,797 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | A tall ladder, Guanajuato, 1930 | $5,848–$7,797 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | Wooden Horse, 1928-29 | $5,848–$9,746 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·04 | el ensueño | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·04 | 'la mamá del bolero y el bolero' (mother of the shoeshine boy and the shoeshine boy) | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·04 | Peregrino en las Cosas Desta Vida (Pilgrim of the Things of This Life) | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·02 | El Ensueño, 1931 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | Ana Maria DG, 1985 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | El Trapo Negro, 1986 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | Trabajadores del Fuego, Mexico, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed 1994 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | Violin Huichol, 1970s | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | Senr de Papantla, Mexico, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed 1995 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | End of Market Day, Yalalag, 1931 | platinum print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·02 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | Retrato de lo Eterno [Portrait of the Eternal], 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,117–$6,175 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | Trabajadores del Fuego [Fire Fighters], 1935 | platinum print, printed later | $4,117–$6,175 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | El Ensueño [The Daydream], 1931 | gelatin silver print | $82,912–$124,368 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | tentaciones en casa de antonio, 1970 | $9,313–$12,417 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | nieves, late 1930s | $6,209–$8,278 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | the dreamer, 1931 | $4,139–$6,209 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | The Daughter of the Dancers, 1933 | $5,174–$6,209 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | striking worker, assassinated, 1934 | $4,139–$6,209 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | Good Reputation in a Doorway, 1939 | $4,139–$6,209 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | Frida Kahlo, 1931 | $6,209–$10,348 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | The Daydream, 1931 | $6,209–$10,348 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·10 | Obrero en Huelga Asesinado, 1934 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·10 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·05 | Manuel Alvarez Bravo | $1,583–$2,374 | Christie's | |||
| 2007·05 | espejo negro (the black mirror), 1947 | $3,974–$5,962 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·04 | 'el soñador' | $60,000–$80,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·04 | 'Luz en el Cuarto' | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·03 | el ensueòo | $6,609–$9,253 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | Untitled, Mexico City, circa 1931 | $47,423–$66,392 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | Sparrow, Skylight, 1939, printed circa 1990 | $1,897–$2,845 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | El Umbral, 1947, printed 1980s | $3,794–$5,691 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | Good Reputation in a Doorway, 1939, printed circa 1940 | $5,691–$9,485 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·10 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | Los Obstáculos, 1929 | platinum print, printed c. 1980 | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | Sábanas, 1933 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | Portfolio of 15 Photographs, 1920-1972 | 15 gelatin silver prints, printed 1977 | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | Casa de Muñecas, 1977 | gelatin silver print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | La Del Pirú, c. 1978 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·10 | 'retrato de lo eterno' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·05 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo (Good Reputation Sleeping), 1939 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,689–$9,482 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·04 | Niño Maya de Tulum, 1942 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·03 | Baile del Venado | $4,858–$7,286 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·03 | Striking worker | $4,250–$5,465 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·02 | Votos, 1966 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Las Lavandras, 1932 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Parábola Óptica, 1921 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | El Ensueño, 1931 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Bicicletas en Domingo, 1966 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Untitled (Two women walking), c. 1970 | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Altar, 1960s | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.