Lourdes Grobet (b.1940, Mexico) was a Mexican photographer, most known for her work documenting the vibrant lives of lucha libre fighters in and out of the ring.
Lucha libre, meaning ‘freestyle wrestling’, is a distinctly Mexican sport characterised by its theatricality, spectacularly attired masked performers, and dramatic choreography.
As competitors of a sport rooted in physical strength and aggression, luchadores are often heralded as prototypes of masculinity. In many ways lucha libre is performance art entrenched in masculinity, a spectacle that encapsulates the “machismo” visible in every strata of Mexican culture.
In her work, Lourdes disrupts conventional imagery surrounding luchadores by re-centering her subjects in domestic spaces far removed from the pageantry of the ring. Through casting her gaze on an iconic part of Mexican heritage, Lourdes was able to explore the power dynamics and gender roles that are pervasive throughout Mexico.
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