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All auctions / Photographs / Alberto Korda (1928–2001) - Fidel Castro pescando en el...
Extraordinary Auction: "Alberto Korda, Personal Archive". Original photographs from Alberto Korda's personal archive, certified by his sole universal heir, Diana Díaz López. * Note on this photograph in particular: * Fidel Castro fishing in the Ernest Hemingway Tuna Tournament, 1960 + COA. * This photograph bears the photographer's dry stamp + COA. It is important to know that later copies from this period lost much of their quality as the negatives deteriorated over the years and left marks that made it impossible to reproduce the level of quality and intensity in the tones like these that we offer. An unprecedented historical, artistic, and documentary value proposition 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, the public has access to an exclusive selection of original photographs from Alberto Korda's personal archive, the renowned Cuban photographer whose work not only defined the visual language of the Cuban Revolution but also became an iconic symbol in twentieth-century history. Beyond his renowned authorship of the mythical 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 sensitive observer of his environment, and a visual chronicler of an unprecedented political, social, and human process. The works presented in this auction are not mere reproductions or copies with no defined origin: they come directly from the artist's personal archive, and they represent a unique, unrepeatable opportunity to acquire pieces with a degree of authenticity and traceability virtually impossible to find today on the international market. The extreme image quality of the blacks in the photographs shows the direct-from-negative image quality; this level of quality is 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 heiress of Alberto Korda's legacy by her father and the only person authorized to certify works of art in the world. This detail, far from being a mere documentary formality, constitutes an absolute guarantee of the origin, legitimacy, and authenticity of the work. In the world of collecting, provenance is a decisive factor, and having the endorsement directly from the person legally and by inheritance authorized to validate Korda's work adds tangible and incalculable intangible value. Diana Díaz has been, for decades, the caretaker of her father's personal archive, and her work as guardian of that legacy has been recognized in Cuba as well as internationally. No one else in the world has the legal authority to issue authenticity certificates for Alberto Korda's works. Therefore, acquiring a photograph with her certification seal is to ensure 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 mark 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 spontaneous scenes of the Cuban people, revolutionary women, children in schools, workers, parades, and moments with deep social symbolism. Each image encapsulates the energy of an 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 slightest gesture, and human dignity, even in 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, its poet in black and white. And his personal archive — zealously safeguarded to this day — represents a vast artistic and documentary reserve of enormous historical value. An exclusive opportunity for collectors and institutions This event is relevant not only 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 value of each photograph. Turn these pieces into high-value cultural and economic collectibles, whose prestige and valuation will only rise over time. This is not just art. It is living history. Biography of ALBERTO KORDA (1928-2001). Alberto Korda: The Eye of the Cuban Revolution. The beginnings: From fashion to revolution Born 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 his partner, specializing in portraits of celebrities, models, and advertising. His talent for framing, light, and composition already stood out in this early stage, and his images revealed a refined aesthetic sensibility that he would later apply to a very different context. However, his destiny radically changed 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 diverse range of players in the revolutionary process, as well as the Cuban people in their daily life: 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 a capacity to find beauty and humanity in any scene. Korda claimed that 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 victims of the La Coubre ship explosion in Havana, Korda took what would become the most iconic photograph of the twentieth century: the portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, later titled Guerrillero Heroico. With a grave expression, a resolute gaze, and wind-blown hair, Che appears as a symbol of rebellion and determination. Curiously, the image was not published by the newspaper Revolución 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 for its use — except when used for commercial purposes, such as in a vodka advertisement campaign, which led Korda to sue and win the case, donating the benefits to Cuban public health. Beyond Che: An invaluable archive Although Guerrillero Heroico grabbed 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 trips to the USSR and Africa, showing the Revolution's diplomatic reach. • Symbolic images, such as the miliciana, the girl with a stick doll, David and Goliath, where the contrast between violence and poetry creates a deeply moving effect. Korda believed that one of his most important series was 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 are part of private and public collections of the world’s greatest prestige. Korda is considered one of the most influential documentary photographers of the twentieth century, and his work has value not only as art but also historically, politically, and culturally. Note: Some descriptions are accompanied by illustrations from books about this 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 illustrative photographs. Some photographs on the back of the image have mounting marks from having been exhibited at a Paris exhibition, but they do not damage the frontal image at all. Important: The photographs will be shipped well protected so they reach their recipient in perfect condition.
Estimate:$1,119.6
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