Martín Chambi facts for kids
Martín Chambi Jiménez was a famous photographer from the south of Peru. People also knew him as Martín Chambi de Coaza. He was the only well-known Native Latin American photographer of his time. He was born on November 5, 1891, in Puno, Peru. He passed away on September 13, 1973, in the city of Cusco.
Many people see him as one of the most important figures in American photography.
Chambi is famous because his photos show important moments in history and society. He took portrait photos of people in cities and in the countryside of the Peruvian Andes mountains. He was the best portrait photographer in the Andean city of Cusco. Chambi also took many photos of nature and places, called landscapes. He sold these pictures as postcards. He was one of the first people to use postcards in Peru.
In 1979, a big art museum called MOMA in New York had an exhibition of Chambi's work. This show later traveled to other places. It helped his photos become known all over the world.
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Martín Chambi's Early Life
Martín Chambi grew up in a poor Quechua family. He was born in one of the poorest parts of Peru in the late 1800s. His father worked in a gold mine near the River Inambari. Martín sometimes went to work with his father. There, he saw his very first photographer. Chambi learned the basic skills from a photographer at the Santo Domingo Mine. This meeting made him want to become a photographer.
After this, Chambi tried to become a professional photographer. In 1908, he traveled to the city of Arequipa. Photography was more advanced there. Many professional photographers lived in Arequipa. They had their own special ways of taking pictures and good techniques.
Chambi became an apprentice in the studio of Max T. Vargas. After nine years, he opened his own studio in Sicuani in 1917. He printed his first postcards in November 1917.
In 1923, he moved to Cusco and opened a studio there. In Cusco, he took pictures of both rich people and poor Native people. During his career, Chambi also traveled all over the Andes. He photographed the mountains, old Inca ruins, and local people. Chambi was with the American explorer Hiram Bingham when Bingham "discovered" Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is a very famous Inca monument.
Important Dates in Chambi's Life
Growing Up and Learning Photography
- 1891 – Martín Chambi was born in Coaza, Puno, Peru. His family spoke Quechua.
- 1905 – His father passed away. Martín went to work in the gold mines by the Inambari River. He met photographers from the Inca Mining Co. there.
- 1908 – He started learning photography as an apprentice at Max T. Vargas's studio in Arequipa.
- 1917 – He opened his first photography studio in Sicuani, Puno.
Becoming a Famous Photographer
- 1920 – He moved to the city of Cusco. He took photos in an artistic "painterly" style he learned in Arequipa.
- 1927 – His unique and strong photographic style began to show.
- 1938 – He opened a studio gallery to show his work.
- 1950 – A big earthquake hit Cusco. After this, he slowly stopped working as an active photographer.
Later Years and Global Recognition
- 1958 – An exhibition was held to honor him after 50 years of his photography career.
- 1964 – Chambi's photos were shown in Mexico at a big international photography event.
- 1973 – Chambi passed away in Cusco, in his old studio.
- 1976 – A video documentary about his art, called "El arte fotográfico de Martín Chambi," was made.
- 1977 – His photographs were carefully saved and fixed for the first time. This was paid for by the Earthwatch Foundation. This helped him become famous around the world.
- 1979 – A large show of his work was held at MOMA in New York City.
- 1981 – His photos were part of a Latin American photography exhibition in Zurich.
- 1986 – A BBC film called "Martín Chambi and The Heirs of the Incas" was shown worldwide.
- 1990 – An exhibition about Chambi was held in Madrid. A book of his work was also published to celebrate the show.
Images for kids
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A plaque showing where Martin Chambi's studio used to be in Cusco.
See also
In Spanish: Martín Chambi para niños
