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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2006·02 | Allà la Cabecera, 1950s | gelatin silver print, printed c. 1978 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Los Rehiletes, 1965; and Untitled (Homage to Monet), 1960 | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·02 | Para el Sol, 1973 | platinum print, printed 1975 | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Los Agachados, 1937 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Obrero en Huelga, Asesinado, 1934 | gelatin silver print, printed c. 1970s | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | 'retrato de lo eterno' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'el ensueño' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·06 | Frida Kahlo, 1930s | gelatin silver print, printed later | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | El Trapo Negro (The Black Cloth), 1986 | platinum print | $4,584–$6,417 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo (Good Reputation Sleeping), 1939 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,501–$9,168 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | la hija de los danzantes (the daughter of the dancers), 1933, printed later | Silver Print, initialled by the photographer in pencil on the reverse | $4,596–$6,434 | Sotheby's | ||
| 2005·05 | la buena fama durmiendo (good reputation sleeping), 1939, printed no later than 1989 | $5,515–$9,192 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·05 | y por las noches gemía (and by night it moaned), 1945, printed late 1970s | $3,677–$5,515 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·04 | Little Horse on an Ice-Cream Cart, 1930 | platinum print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | El Ensueño, 1931 | platinum print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | platinum print, printed later | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·02 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·02 | The False Moon, 1967 | gelatin silver print, printed 1980s | $3,500–$4,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·11 | Parabola Optica (Optic Parable), circa 1930 | $11,124–$14,832 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'dos pares de piernas' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | selected images | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | selected images | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | selected images | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'el umbral' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'photographs by manuel álvarez bravo' | $30,000–$40,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'sed pública' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | Nude Studies | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'la buena fama durmiendo' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | Untitled (Bicycle with hanging garments), circa 1976 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Odres (Wineskins), 1973-1974 | gelatin silver print | $3,500–$4,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Señor de Papantla, 1934 | gelatin silver print from | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Retrato de lo Eterno, 1935 | platinum print, printed later | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Señales y Pron ósticos número 3, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $3,500–$4,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Niña con Lena, 1930s | gelatin silver print | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | La Plumero, 1920s | gelatin silver print | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Sed Pública, 1934 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Los Agachados, 1934 | gelatin silver print from | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | La Hija de los Danzantes, 1933 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | El Umbrel, 1947 | initialed in pencil (on the verso) | $4,500–$5,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·07 | lluvia de chispas (rain of sparks), 1935, printed later | $926–$1,296 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·07 | parabola optica (optic parable), 1931, printed later | $3,704–$5,555 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·07 | instrumental (instrumental), 1931, printed later | $3,704–$5,555 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·07 | retrata de lo eterno (portrait of the eternal), 1935, printed later | $4,630–$6,481 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'el umbral' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'la buena fama durmiendo' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | selected images | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'fifteen photographs' | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·02 | Untitled, c. 1974 | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·02 | Planta Cimaranna, late 1960s | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·02 | Untitled, 1974-1975 | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2003·10 | 'espejo negro' | $1,500–$2,500 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'la buena fama durmiendo' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2002·12 | Obrero en Huelga [Murdered Striker], 1934; Un Poco Alegre y Graciosa [Some Little Joy and Grace], 1942 | 2 gelatin silver prints, printed late 1950s-60s | $2,832–$3,462 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·05 | Good Reputation Sleeping | $2,192–$2,923 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·05 | Bicicletas en domingo; Landscape, Mexico | $1,461–$2,192 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | Manuel Alvarez Bravo | $7,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | El Ensueño, 1931 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Frida con Globo, Coyoacan, Mexico, 1938 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo, 1930 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2001·11 | Sed Pública (Public Thirst) | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·11 | Selected images of Acapulco | $1,200–$1,800 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·11 | El Evangelista (The Evangelist) | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·11 | El Peluquero (Barber) | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·03 | El trapo negro (The black cloth) | $2,841–$4,262 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | Street life in Mexico, circa 1930s, printed later | $1,739–$2,609 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | Guanajuato | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | Retrato de lo eterno (Portrait of the Eternal) | $90,000–$120,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·12 | Xipototec, 1978 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 1999·12 | Fruta Prohibida, 1972 | platinum print | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 1999·12 | Un poco alegre y graciosa (Somewhat Gay and Graceful) | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·12 | Señor Presidente Municipal | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·12 | Dos pares de piernas (Two Pairs of Legs) | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·12 | La hija de los danzantes (The Daughter of the Dancers) | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·12 | Ventana a los magueyes (Window to the Agaves) | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·09 | Untitled (Curtained doorway) | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·06 | Margarita de Bonampak (1949) | $1,200–$1,800 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | La Desuendada | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | Dia di Todos Muertos | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | Señor de Papantla | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | Margarita de Bonampak | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | La Buena Fama Durmiendo | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·05 | Retrato de lo Eterno | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·04 | Selected images (1940s-1975) | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·04 | Self Portrait (1984) | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·04 | Girl Looking at Birds (1931); and Scene with galloping horse (1930s) | $3,000–$4,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·04 | Selected images (1935-68) | $3,000–$4,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·03 | Selected images (1920s-1970s) | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1999·01 | Day of All Dead (1933) | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·12 | Striking Worker, Assassinated (1934) | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·12 | Selected images (1927-40s) | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·12 | Optic Parable (1921) | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·12 | Fruta Prohibida (1976) | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·10 | A Fish Called Sword (1944) | $25,000–$35,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·04 | Cruce de Chalma | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 1998·04 | Panten, Visitacin (1964-65); Las Marparitas (1930s); Seales y Pronsticos (1930s); Piatas (1930); Calabaza y Caracol (1928); and Casa Furgn (1930s) | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.