The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima presents “El Perú, en clave CARETAS. 75 años de historia fotográfica”, a landmark photography exhibition that traces seven and a half decades of Peruvian history through the archives of one of the country’s most emblematic and enduring magazines. Running from May 15 to July 12 in Room 2 of MAC Lima, the show brings together the work of a remarkable roster of photographers who collaborated with Caretas across different eras, offering a sweeping visual account of the nation’s political, social, and cultural evolution.
The images on display are far more than journalistic records — they are works that have shaped Peru’s collective memory, capturing moments of triumph, tragedy, transformation, and everyday life. The exhibition highlights photojournalism’s essential role as a source of information, a historical document, a critical instrument, and a form of popular art accessible to all. Each photograph carries the weight of the moment it records, but also the distinctive eye of the photographer who framed it.
Over its seventy-five-year trajectory, Caretas developed a visual language all its own, one that left an indelible mark on Peruvian graphic journalism. Under the visionary leadership of Enrique Zileri, the magazine forged an editorial identity characterized by intelligent humor, critical reflection, and an unwavering commitment to democracy and freedom of expression. This identity is palpable throughout the exhibition, where each section reflects the magazine’s unique ability to balance serious political coverage with a sharp, often irreverent perspective on power.
Curated by Diana Zileri and Andrés Longhi, the exhibition features photographs by an exceptional group of artists who worked with the magazine at various points in its history: Víctor Ch. Vargas, Óscar Medrano, Carlos Saavedra, Ruth Enciso, Leoncio Mariscal, Víctor Manrique, Alicia Benavides, Lotta Burenius, Luis Julián, Javier Zapata, Gilmar Pérez, Daphne Dougall de Zileri, Fátima López, and Armida Testino. Together, their work constitutes a visual encyclopedia of modern Peru, spanning from formal political portraiture to the rawest moments of social upheaval.
The exhibition is organized into thematic sections that explore the country’s political life, social movements, public health campaigns, economic shifts, and the painful years of the internal armed conflict. Among the most powerful records on view are those documenting the case of journalist Hugo Bustíos, the poignant portrait of Edmundo Camana as a witness before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the unforgettable coverage of Vladimiro Montesinos. These images sit alongside quieter scenes of everyday Peruvian life — markets, streets, celebrations, and ordinary faces — offering a nuanced and deeply human portrait of a diverse country in constant transformation.
“El Perú, en clave CARETAS” is not merely a retrospective of a magazine. It is a visual chronicle of Peru itself, told by the photographers who were there to witness its most defining moments, and a testament to the power of photojournalism to inform, provoke, and endure.
Photo credits: MAC Lima
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