This essay, Photogenic - the invention of Brazil on Jean Manzon s photography, has as its main focus the articulation of the images performated by the french photographer Jean Manzon, in the 1940 s, and the ideological project of the period. In this context we take into consideration Manzon s experience in the european press in the 1930 s, moment when the photography interrupts its function of only illustrating the world, turning into a constructor of reality. In this path, the political context of the so called Estado Novo acquires relevance, in particular with its association with the press, by means, most of all, through the Departamento de Imprensa e Propaganda (DIP). Afterwards, this investigation focuses on Jean Manzon s contribution for the illustrated magazine O Cruzeiro between 1943 and 1951. From a series of images, Manzon emerges as an agent of the national identity consolidation, producing a synthesis of Brazil, as a translation of the multiple existing ideas at that time.