Mano Martínez

MANO MARTÍNEZ (Spain, 21st century).
“Ivan,” 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 April 2015.
Measurements: 52.49 × 37.5 cm.

The first copy of a limited edition of ten, “Ivan” is part of Mano Martínez’s exploration of the male nude and the contemporary construction of identity through portraiture. The work combines a carefully staged composition with an intimate approach that departs from the conventional codes of fashion photography.

The figure appears with his back to the viewer in front of a mirror, which partially duplicates his body and creates an interplay between presence, reflection, and concealment. The face remains out of the viewer’s direct line of sight, shifting the focus to the anatomy, the restrained posture, and the psychological relationship established with his own image.

The warm lighting sculpts the body through sharp hallmarks and silhouettes it against the interior’s half-light. The mirror fragments the space and expands the depth of the scene, while the print on cotton paper allows for the precise reproduction of the skin’s tonal gradations and the density of the dark areas.

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.