MODERN MEXICO CITY IN JUAN GUZMÁN’S PHOTOGRAPHS, AT ICME

The Instituto Cultural de Mexico en Espana (ICME) presents En donde no cabe un alfiler, bien caben dos ruleteros, an exhibition bringing together a selection of photographs by Juan Guzman (born Hans Gutmann, Cologne, Germany, 1911 – Mexico City, Mexico, 1982), centered on his snapshots of life in and the transformation of the Mexican capital into a modern metropolis.

The images come from the photographer’s personal archive, incorporated into the photographic collection of Fundación Televisa by decision of Teresita Miranda, his last partner. The exhibition not only offers a vision of the city but also preserves the documentary legacy of one of the most prominent photojournalists of the last century.

After passing through Spain while fleeing Germany, Guzmán eventually settled in Mexico, where he witnessed the dynamism and growth of the metropolis. His photographs precisely trace the two worlds that emerged: that of a cosmopolitan capital committed to modernity and development, and the marginal spaces that were simultaneously taking shape.

The architectural expansion of the capital, its rapid and unplanned development, and the tensions between tradition and modernity come together to create an unvarnished portrait of reality. His work gives equal prominence to the urban environment and its inhabitants—sometimes united in shared spaces—combining social sensitivity with an interest in aesthetic and urban change.

Juan Guzmán. En donde no cabe un alfiler, bien caben dos ruleteros can be seen until April 10, 2026, at the Instituto Cultural de México en España, Carrera de San Jerónimo 46, Madrid (Spain).