Mano Martínez

MANO MARTÍNEZ (Spain, 21st century).
“Nick,” 2015.
Photograph on 250 g/m² Epson UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper (cotton-based). Inkjet print.
Edition 1/10.
Signed and numbered by hand on the reverse.
Edition of 10 copies and one artist’s proof.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist in 2015.
Measurements: 52.49 × 37.5 cm.

The first copy of a limited edition of ten, “Nick” is part of Mano Martínez’s exploration of the male portrait and a contemporary reexamination of the codes associated with the nude. The carefully staged composition combines references to fashion photography with a more intimate and psychological approach to the model.

The subject is reclining on a classically styled armchair, in a relaxed posture that has hallmarks of evasiveness in the direction of his gaze. The black hat serves as a compositional device and creates a strong dark focal point at the center of the image, while the athletic socks introduce an everyday element that deliberately disrupts the portrait’s solemnity.

Side lighting contours the anatomy through soft gradations and accentuates the textures of the body, the upholstery, and the carved wood. The palette of ochres, browns, and blacks envelops the scene in a warm atmosphere, accentuated by the print on cotton paper.

Trained in Artistic Photography at the Escola d’Art i Superior de Disseny Serra i Abella, Mano Martínez has worked in the fields of fashion and advertising, with publications in Vogue España, Neo2, and La Vanguardia. His personal work focuses particularly on male portraiture and has been featured in exhibitions held in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and Mexico City.