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At a glance

Around 1 hour

This exhibition brings the forgotten experimental photography of Isabel Matoses to light, showcasing her innovative work from the Spanish Transition for the first time in a museum setting.

Why go

It offers a rare look at an independent artist who worked outside the academic establishment. With over 70 images, many previously unseen, it fills a significant gap in the history of 20th-century Spanish photography.

You'll see

Experimental photography · 1970s street scenes · Portraiture and fashion · Graphic design influences · More than 70 works

Pace of visit

The exhibition spans three specific areas of the museum, featuring intimate prints that invite close observation of their technical details.

Don't miss

The experimental works that blend photography with elements of drawing and cinema, highlighting Matoses's unique approach to the medium.

Artlovers Tip

Look closely at the textures of the prints; the artist’s background in other visual arts is often visible in the way she manipulates the surface of the image.

Artlovers relevance

Inside the exhibition

Meet the artist

Isabel Matoses

Key Movements

Contemporary Photography

Description

Isabel Matoses. La imagen recuperada at the Museo Lázaro Galdiano in Madrid, Spain, presents a significant retrospective of a photographer whose work remained largely hidden for decades. Through more than 70 images, the exhibition traces the career of Isabel Matoses from 1969 to 1985, a period marked by Spain's political and cultural transition. Access to the exhibition is included in the general museum admission.

The selection covers diverse genres including street photography, portraiture, and fashion. However, it is Matoses's experimental spirit that stands out, as she often incorporated techniques from graphic design, engraving, and cinema into her photographic practice. Her self-taught approach allowed her to bypass traditional academic constraints, resulting in a highly personal visual language that influenced younger generations.

By gathering these works from dispersed collections, the museum offers a new perspective on the visual culture of the late 20th century. The show highlights Matoses not just as a documentarian of her time, but as a pioneer who pushed technical boundaries. The works are displayed across the Sala Pórtico, the Galería, and the Arte Invitado space, providing a comprehensive view of her creative output.

Worth travelling for?

A rewarding discovery for those interested in mid-century Spanish history and the evolution of experimental photography beyond the mainstream canon.

Experience as an Artlover

Start in the Sala Pórtico before moving through the Galería and Arte Invitado sections to see the full range of her multidisciplinary techniques.

Exhibition

Isabel Matoses. La imagen recuperada

Hours & rating from Google

Madrid, Spain

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