Nicholas Nixon (Detroit, 1947) is one of the photographers who has most deeply explored portraiture and social photography since the 1970s. His humanistic approach and interest in representing his own relationship with the world are evident in several of his series, particularly one of his most renowned works: The Brown Sisters, which was the first to be added to Fundación MAPFRE’s photography collection.

This series follows the photographer’s wife, Bebe Brown, and her three sisters year after year, from 1975 until 2022, when Nixon brought it to a close. Through these images, we witness their transformation—from the fullness of youth to the late stages of maturity. The technical perfection, precision, and clarity of his images make The Brown Sisters one of the most poignant testimonies to the passage of time in contemporary art.