**First Time At Auction**

Martin Chambi Jimenez or Martin Chambi de Coaza (Peruvian, 1891-1973) black and white photograph of classroom in Cusco (also Cuzco), Peru, ca. 1920 to 1950 CE. A wonderful depiction of a classroom in Peru with students working diligently at shared desks set on a brick and dirt floor, nuns wearing black and white habits overseeing them in the background, two girls standing beside the chalkboard, one of whom has apparently written, "Viva el Peru" (Long live Peru) on the board. Chambi was best known for revealing the daily aspects of Andean life, presenting his Peruvian subjects with great dignity despite their oftentimes relatively impoverished existence. A special vision captured through the lens of one of the first important Latin American photographers. Size: 8" L x 10" W (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)

Martin Chambi was born to peasants in a town called Coaza near Lake Titikaka and learned his craft from Don Max T. Vargas. In 1920, he moved his family to Cusco (also Cuzco) where he set up a photography studio and practiced until his death. During his lifetime, his photographs were exhibited in galleries in Lima and Arequipa, Peru; La Paz, Bolivia, and Santiago, Chile. In addition his photographs were published in "National Geographic" (1938) and various newspapers and magazines. In 1977, the American photographer and anthropologist Edward Ranney together with Victor Chambi catalogued approximately 6,000 plates, and in 1979, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a Martin Chambi retrospective exhibition that traveled throughout the world, giving Chambi's work international exposure.

For more about Martin Chambi's oeuvre, read the article entitled, "Chambi of Cuzco" in "Art in America" (December 1979).

Provenance: ex-Historia Gallery, James Caswell, Santa Monica, California, USA

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#131493

Photo is embossed with "Martin J. Chambi Cuzco" in the margin. Photo has curved a bit and has minor wear to the corners, but is in otherwise good condition.