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All auctions / Photographs / Alberto Korda (1928–2001) - Iconica imagen de Che Guevara...
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: * Iconic image captured by Alberto Korda during the Ernest Hemingway International Tuna Fishing Tournament, May 15, 1960, in Havana. In the photograph, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro appear seated on the boat, mid-fishing, with their lines cast into the sea. Che watches Fidel attentively, in a moment of calm and revolutionary camaraderie amid the Cuban waters. This seemingly relaxed moment carries a strong symbolic load and has become one of the most legendary scenes at the dawn of the Cuban Revolution. The tournament was organized by Ernest Hemingway himself, who then lived in Cuba and had become a visible supporter of the new Cuba. That day, the atmosphere was easygoing, yet filled with political content. The participation of Fidel and Che—the faces most visible of the revolutionary process—was not just a sporting gesture: it was a way of projecting to the world an image of normality, popular power, and closeness to national traditions. Fidel Castro, as if history had been written for the portrait, ended up winning the tournament. At the award ceremony, Hemingway personally hands him the trophy, in a scene that would enter the archives of the century as one of the symbolic encounters between art, politics, and history. The writer—Nobel Prize winner and myth hunter—seemed to recognize in Fidel a new kind of epic protagonist. Che, in turn, assumed a more reserved role, observing, present but not seeking the center. Korda captured with precision the essence of the moment: two revolutionary leaders in a setting entirely foreign to the battlefield or the tribune, united by the sea, tradition, and an almost intimate moment that humanizes and magnifies at the same time. This image is much more than a document; it is a photograph that summarizes the spirit of an era, the communion between the popular and the political, between the everyday and the historic. A must-have work for any documentary photography collector with an awareness of the real value of living history. * This photograph bears the photographer's dry stamp + COA. It is important to know that copies produced after this period lost much quality because the negatives aged and acquired marks that made it impossible to reproduce in the high quality and intensity of tones like those 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 famous Cuban photographer whose work not only defined the visual face of the Cuban Revolution but also became an icon of 20th-century history. Beyond his renowned authorship of the mythical portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara—a 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 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 without a defined origin: they come directly from the artist's personal archive, representing a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to acquire pieces with a degree of authenticity and traceability practically impossible to find today on the international market. One can see in the blacks tones of the photographs the extreme image quality directly from the negative, rarely possible to obtain this level of quality in later copies. Authenticity guaranteed: The incalculable 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 to Alberto Korda's legacy by his 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 backing of the person legally and by inheritance authorized to validate Korda's work adds tangible and intangible value that is incalculable. Diana Díaz has been, for decades, the custodian of her father's personal archive, and her work as guardian of that legacy has been recognized both in Cuba and 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 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 mark of exclusivity, and protection against the proliferation of counterfeit copies or unauthenticated prints circulating without backing. 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 of deep social symbolism. Each image encapsulates the energy of an era and the sensitivity of an artist who knew how to portray not only the leaders but also the spirit of the people. The beauty of his work lies in the ability to capture emotion, the minimal gesture, and human dignity, even in complex contexts. His humanist style continues to be studied in art and photography academies for its aesthetic precision and narrative weight. Korda was not a mere witness to history. He was its visual interpreter, its black-and-white poet. And his personal archive—today securely guarded—represents an artistic and documentary reserve 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 vivid 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 collection items of the highest cultural and economic value, whose prestige and valuation will only increase over time. In the art world, few opportunities combine history, exclusivity, provenance, and authentication as strongly as this. 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 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 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 of the newspaper Revolución. His closeness to the revolutionary leaders gave him privileged access to intimate scenes, historic speeches, diplomatic trips, and daily 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 actors 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 “by soul, not by technique,” and that authenticity is felt in every one of his compositions. His style is marked by 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 disaster in Havana, Korda took what would become the most iconic photograph of the 20th century: the portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, later titled Guerrillero Heroico. With a grave expression, a steady gaze, and wind-blown hair, Che appears as a symbol of rebellion and determination. Interestingly, 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 widely reproduced and disseminated, becoming a global symbol of resistance, idealism, and 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 royalties for its use—except when it was used for commercial purposes, such as in a vodka advertising campaign, which led Korda to sue and win the case, donating the proceeds 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 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 believed one of his most important series was the one dedicated to Cuban women, 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 highest prestige worldwide. Korda is considered 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 his history. Owning a work by Alberto Korda is much more than acquiring a photograph: it is safeguarding a memory, it is engaging in a dialogue with history, and it is paying tribute to a art that transformed politics into visual poetry. 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 not included in the sale, nor are other illustrative photographs. Important: The photographs will be shipped well protected to arrive to their recipient in perfect condition."
Estimate:$1,121.28
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