Alberto Korda (1928–2001) - Fidel Castro observando a uno...

Extraordinary auction: "Alberto Korda, personal archive". Original photographs from Alberto Korda's personal archive, certified by his sole universal heir, Diana Díaz López. Note about this particular photograph: * Fidel Castro appears leaning, gazing intently ahead beside a child who also holds the gaze with serenity. Both, almost in parallel, share a reflective and intimate attitude. What makes this image unique is that it was taken in Havana in 1966, and the depicted child is one of the adopted children of the legendary showgirl and activist Josephine Baker. Baker, a show business icon and symbol in the fight against racism, adopted twelve children of different nationalities in what she called her “rainbow tribe,” to demonstrate that coexistence among races was possible. Her visit to Cuba was part of a solidarity and cultural trip, during the height of revolutionary fervor. The photograph captures a moment of connection between two worlds: revolutionary Cuba under Fidel and Baker's humanist, anti-racist project. The image's visual strength, with both faces at the same level, conveys mutual respect, equality, and hope. An intimate scene, deeply symbolic, that transcends time and becomes a testimony of a meeting between two parallel struggles: social justice and racial equality. * This photograph bears the photographer's dry stamp + COA. It is important to note that copies produced after this era lost a lot of quality because the negatives deteriorated over the years, leaving marks that made it impossible to reproduce the same level of quality and tonal intensity as the prints we offer. An unprecedented proposal of historical, artistic, and documentary value In the world of art and documentary photography, there are moments that mark a before and after. This auction represents one of them. For the first time, an exclusive selection of original photographs from Alberto Korda's personal archive is made available to the public, the renowned Cuban photographer whose work not only defined the visual language of the Cuban Revolution but also became an icon of 20th-century history. Beyond his acclaimed authorship of the legendary portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara —an image that has transcended cultures as a symbol of rebellion, dignity, and idealism— becoming the most reproduced image in human history. Korda was an artist deeply committed to his time, a perceptive observer of his surroundings and a visual chronicler of an unprecedented political, social, and human process. The works presented in this auction are not mere reproductions or copies of unknown origin: they come directly from the artist's personal archive, and they represent a unique, unrepeatable opportunity to acquire pieces with a level of authenticity and traceability almost impossible to find today in the international market. One can observe in the blacks of the photographs the extreme image quality directly from the negative, a level of quality rarely achievable in later copies. Guaranteed authenticity: The priceless value of the certificate signed by Diana Díaz. The element that definitively distinguishes this collection is that each photograph is delivered with an authenticity certificate issued and personally signed by Diana Díaz, the sole legally recognized universal heir of Alberto Korda's legacy by her father and the only person authorized to certify the work. This detail, far from being a mere documentary formality, constitutes an absolute guarantee of origin, legitimacy, and authenticity of the work. In the world of collecting, provenance is a decisive factor, and having the direct endorsement of the person legally and by inheritance authorized to validate Korda's work adds immeasurable tangible and intangible value. Diana Díaz has long been the caretaker of her father's personal archive, and her guardianship of that legacy has been recognized both in Cuba and internationally. No other person in the world has the legal authority to issue authenticity certificates for Alberto Korda's works. Therefore, acquiring a photograph with her certifying signature ensures a direct and legitimate link to the author, his original archive, and his family history. In the art market, this legitimacy is more than a guarantee: it is a safe investment, a seal of exclusivity, and protection against the proliferation of counterfeit copies or unverified prints circulating without support. A living legacy: Art, revolution, and humanity The photographs available in this auction reflect different facets of Korda's gaze: from intimate portraits of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to candid scenes of the Cuban people, revolutionary women, children in schools, workers, parades, and moments of deep social symbolism. Each image encapsulates the energy of a given era and the sensitivity of an artist who knew how to portray not only leaders but also the soul of the people. The beauty of his work lies in the ability to capture emotion, the minimal gesture, and human dignity, even within complex contexts. His deeply humanist style continues to be studied in art and photography academies for its aesthetic precision and narrative charge. Korda was not a mere witness to history. He was its visual interpreter, a poet in black and white. And his personal archive — jealously guarded to this day — represents a vast artistic and documentary reservoir of enormous historical value. An exclusive opportunity for collectors and institutions This event is not only relevant for private collectors but also for cultural institutions, museums, archives, foundations, and universities that wish to add a piece of contemporary history signed by one of its visual protagonists to their collections. The combination of: • Direct provenance from the author's archive. • The personal and legal certification of Diana Díaz. • The image quality, aesthetics, and historical significance of each photograph. Turns these pieces into collection items of very high cultural and economic value, whose prestige and price will only increase over time. In the art world, few opportunities combine history, exclusivity, provenance, and authentication with such force as this. This is not just art. This is living history. Biography of ALBERTO KORDA (1928-2001). Alberto Korda: The eye of the Cuban Revolution. The beginnings: From fashion to the revolution Born as Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez in Havana, Cuba, on September 14, 1928, Korda began his career in commercial and fashion photography. During the 1950s, he founded a studio with a partner, specializing in portraits of celebrities, models, and advertising. His talent for framing, light, and composition stood out in this early phase, and his images revealed a refined aesthetic sensibility that he would later apply to a very different context. However, his fate changed radically from 1959, with the triumph of the Revolution led by Fidel Castro. Fascinated by the energy and idealism of the new political process, Korda dedicated himself to documenting social change from within, becoming the official photographer for the newspaper Revolución. His closeness to the revolutionary leaders gave him privileged access to intimate scenes, historic speeches, diplomatic trips, and everyday moments of revolutionary life. A visual testimony of the Revolution Korda was an exceptional witness to some of the most emblematic moments in Cuba's contemporary history. Over more than a decade, he captured Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, Raúl Castro, and a variety of figures in the revolutionary process, as well as the Cuban people in their daily lives: peasants, workers, children, and women who embodied the ideals of social justice, literacy, and sovereignty. His work is characterized by an intense emotional charge and an ability to find beauty and humanity in any scene. Korda claimed his photography was “of the soul, not of technique,” and that authenticity is felt in every one of his compositions. His style is marked by the use of natural light, close framing, and a deeply humanist gaze. The immortal image: Guerrillero Heroico On March 5, 1960, during a funeral for the victims of the La Coubre ship explosion in Havana, Korda took what would become the century's most iconic photograph: the portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, later titled Guerrillero Heroico. With a grave expression, a steadfast gaze, and wind-blown hair, Che appears as a symbol of rebellion and determination. Curiously, the image was not published by the Revolución newspaper the next day, and Korda kept it as part of his personal archive. Years later, the photograph was reproduced and widely disseminated, becoming a global symbol of resistance, idealism, and the fight against oppression. It was adopted by social movements around the world, from May ’68 to civil rights campaigns. Despite the image's popularity, Korda never charged rights for its use — except when it was used commercially, such as in a vodka advertising campaign, which led Korda to sue and win the case, donating the proceeds to the Cuban public health system. Beyond Che: An invaluable archive Although Guerrillero Heroico made the headlines, Korda's work is vast and goes far beyond that image. His archive includes: • Close portraits of Fidel Castro, in moments of concentration, relaxation, or leadership. • Scenes of the Cuban people, particularly women and children, highlighting dignity, hope, and everyday beauty. • Documentation of international missions, such as travels to the USSR and Africa, showing the Revolution's diplomatic projection. • Symbolic images, such as the miliciana, the girl with the stick doll, David and Goliath, where the contrast between violence and poetry creates a deeply moving effect. Korda considered one of his most important series to be the one devoted to Cuban women, whom he portrayed as active protagonists of the revolutionary process. With these images, he helped challenge traditional gender roles and celebrate female strength. Legacy and international recognition Alberto Korda passed away in Paris in 2001 while attending an exhibition of his work. His legacy, however, has continued to grow, with exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world. His archive has been the subject of numerous publications and catalogs, and his works form part of private and public collections of the highest prestige worldwide. Korda is regarded as one of the most influential documentary photographers of the 20th century, and his work has value not only artistically but also historically, politically, and culturally. Each image offered in this auction is a window into the heart of a revolution, seen through the lens of an artist committed to his people and their history. Owning a work by Alberto Korda is much more than acquiring a photograph: it is safeguarding a memory, engaging with history, and paying tribute to an art that transformed politics into visual poetry. Note: Some descriptions are accompanied by illustrations from books about the image; the books shown are not included with the photograph for sale. The illustrative portraits of photographer Alberto Korda are also not included in the sale nor are other illustrated photographs. Important: The photographs will be shipped well protected so they arrive to their destination in perfect condition.

Estimación:€3

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