CARLOS RELVAS — Book

Carlos Relvas is one of the most renowned amateur photographers in the history of 19th century Portuguese photography. Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea (MNAC) in Lisbon, invited ilhas studio to do the design for the exhibition Carlos Relvas 1838-1894 Vistas inéditas de Portugal and the consequent catalogue.

The exhibition was based on a research project (CICANT— Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias) dedicated to the study of the stereoscopic photography by Carlos Relvas, and its importance during the early years of his career, between 1862 and 1874.
This is one of the least-known periods in Carlos Relvas’ photography. In order to study it, images from the Carlos Relvas House-Studio archive were combined with those from the collections of five different institutions and private collectors, disclosing a considerable set of original albumen prints. This ambitious survey allowed the rediscovery of portraits and views of Portugal which display a rigorous practice of different techniques, genres and photographic formats, offering a broader and more dynamic overview of Carlos Relvas’ early photographic work. 

2019 DGLAB Book Awards selection & shortlist for the best book design competition in the world (Fundacion Buchkunst)

Client: MNAC
Lisbon, 2019