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All auctions / Photographs / Alberto Korda (1928–2001) - "Objetos personales de Fidel Castro"
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 photograph in particular: * "Personal belongings of Fidel Castro", in Oriente during his 1966 trip to the Sierra Maestra + COA. In 1966 Fidel Castro undertook a trip to the Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba, where the Revolution began. The journey was part of a political campaign called the "March of History", which sought to educate and mobilize new generations around revolutionary ideals. These images had never been offered for sale until now. * 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 quality and tonal intensity of these prints 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 is offered an exclusive selection of original photographs from Alberto Korda’s personal archive, the renowned Cuban photographer whose work not only defined the visual identity of the Cuban Revolution, but also became an icon of 20th-century history. Beyond his renowned 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 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 with unclear origins: they come directly from the artist’s personal archive, and represent a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to acquire pieces with a degree of authenticity and traceability practically impossible to find today in the international market. You can observe in the blacks of the photographs the extreme image quality directly from the negative, a level of quality rarely attainable in later copies. Guaranteed authenticity: 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 of 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 determining factor, and having the direct endorsement of the person legally empowered and by inheritance to validate Korda’s work adds an immeasurable tangible and intangible value. Diana Díaz has been, for decades, the caretaker of her father’s personal archive, and her role 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 is to secure 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 sensibility of an artist who knew how to portray not only the 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 amidst complex contexts. His style, deeply humanist, continues to be studied in art and photography schools for its aesthetic precision and narrative charge. Korda was not a mere witness to history. He was its visual interpreter, the poet in black and white. And his personal archive — guarded jealously to this day — represents a vast 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 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, aesthetic, and historical significance of each photograph. Turns these pieces into collection items of extremely 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 as powerfully as this. It is not just about art. It is about 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 a partner, where they specialized 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 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 turned to documenting social change from within, becoming the official photographer for the newspaper Revolución. His closeness to the revolutionary leaders granted 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 eyewitness to some of the most emblematic moments in the contemporary history of Cuba. Over more than a decade, he captured in black and white Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, Raúl Castro, and a diversity of actors in the revolutionary process, as well as the Cuban people in their daily life: peasants, workers, children, and women who embodied 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 stated 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 the victims of the La Coubre ship explosion 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 determined gaze, and wind-blown hair, the Che appears as a symbol of rebellion and determination. Curiously, the image was not published by the newspaper Revolución the following 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 fighting oppression. It was adopted by social movements worldwide, 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, especially women and children, highlighting dignity, hope, and everyday beauty. • documentation of international missions, such as journeys to the USSR and Africa, showing the Revolution’s diplomatic reach. • 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 regarded one of his most important series as that dedicated 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 died in Paris in 2001 while attending an exhibition of his work. His legacy, however, has continued to grow, with exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide. 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 20th century, and his work has historical, political, and cultural value in addition to its artistic value. 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 history. Owning a work by Alberto Korda is much more than acquiring a photograph: it is safeguarding a memory, engaging in a dialogue with history, and paying tribute to an 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 also not included in the sale nor other illustrative photographs. Important: The photographs will be shipped well protected so that they arrive to their recipient in perfect condition.”}
Estimate:$672.77
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