Editora Capivara

About the book

This book reveals the existence of a compendium of vital importance for the country's culture: a collection of Brazilian photography brought together by Princesa Isabel and preserved by her descendants in Europe. This set of more than a thousand pictures, mostly unpublished, is presented in this work for the first time, after being accessible only for members of the imperial family.

Its reappearance in the 21st century constitutes the most significant finding yet in the field of 19th century Brazilian photography - and reveals images of extraordinary strength and beauty, being also of inestimable historical importance, as they include a complete coverage of the celebrations for the signing of the Golden Law [law that set all slaves free], with some of the first truly great images of Brazilian photojournalism, taken in May 13, 1888. Many of the events portrayed in the collection were not known as having any photographic coverage at all, let alone being unpublished for 120 years.

FIRST PLACE IN THE JABUTI PRIZE 2009

Note: the Paulista Association of Art Critics [APCA], that yearly selects the highlights of Brazilian culture, awarded to the book "Princesa Isabel Collection - 19th century photography" the award for Best Photography of 2008 in the Visual Arts category.

M2BRNET