JOSE AMADOR (1897–1965) - Imagén inédita e impactante del...

Shocking and until now unpublished image of Che Guevara, captured in the heat of the Cuban Revolution, probably after one of the decisive battles of Santa Clara, in 1959. In this powerful composition, the Che appears standing, facing front, radiating confidence and charisma. He wears his classic revolutionary beret, with the jacket casually slung over his right shoulder, while firmly gripping his belt. Between his fingers, a half-lit cigar, and hanging from a finger, a hand grenade, a visual symbol of the tension and intensity of the historic moment Cuba was living. On his belt you can notice another grenade and a combat machete, details that reinforce the authenticity and the drama of the instant. His side gaze, serene and smiling, seems to anticipate victory, portraying a human, triumphant Che who is aware of the symbolic weight of his role in history. The visual force of this photograph lies not only in its historical value but also in its impeccable composition, in which spontaneity and documentary aesthetics fuse with a unique naturalism. A never-before-seen image, sourced from the archives of the legendary Cuban photographer Amador Vales, a pioneer of photojournalism on the island and a direct witness to the great events of his century. Works of this nature, due to their rarity, context, and visual power, are regarded as authentic first-rate historical documents, sought after by collectors and museums around the world interested in Latin American photography and revolutionary iconography. JOSE AMADOR (1897–1965) Pioneer of Cuban photojournalism Childhood and training JOSE AMADOR was born in the Canary Islands in 1897. After the Cuban‑American War, his parents emigrated to Cuba and settled in Havana. From a young age he showed artistic leanings and, at just 16, in 1913, decided to leave school to join the Bohemia magazine, where he began as an assistant to the artistic director, Antonio Rodríguez Morey. He recognized his talent and encouraged him to study photography and engraving in the workshops of the newspaper La Discusión, under the tutelage of the prestigious master Federico Gibert. Thanks to his dedication, Amador progressed from apprentice to photojournalist. In 1917, at only 20, he became the first photographer of Bohemia, marking the start of a career of more than half a century tied to Cuba’s visual history. Bohemia and the birth of Cuban photojournalism During his early years at Bohemia, Vales witnessed the magazine’s evolution into a modern, popular medium. In 1927, when Miguel Ángel Quevedo Lastra took the helm, Bohemia modernized its format and gave prominence to imagery. Amador, as the only fixed photojournalist, became an essential figure within this process, contributing a fresh and bold perspective that combined technique and artistic sensibility. Meanwhile, he opened his own photographic studio on Belascoaín Street, near the corner of San Rafael, where he did portraits, IDs, and postcards. He also collaborated with his former master Federico Gibert in organizing the photographic department of the newspaper El País between 1924 and 1927. In those years, photojournalism began to solidify in Cuba. Until then, illustrated magazines depended on images provided by photographers of the daily newspapers, who worked independently. Vales was part of the first generation that professionalized the craft within an editorial staff, paving the way for modern photojournalism on the island. The reporter of difficult times Amador’s talent and courage became especially notable during the turbulent years of Gerardo Machado’s dictatorship. Bohemia openly supported popular causes, and Amador risked his life covering student protests and police crackdowns. He earned a reputation as fearless: colleagues said that, being deaf, he did not hear the shots and kept photographing under fire, focused only on getting the best image. Professor and photographer Rafael Pegudo Gallardo recalled: “Vales always stood out for his audacity in photographing shootouts and the brutal abuses of Machado’s police… When Machado fell, on August 12, 1933, I coincided with him in the shooting outside the Prado pharmacy at Prado and Virtudes. We both photographed the moment when the people raised the body of the chief of ‘la Porra’ onto the bronze lion of Prado. Bohemia published Amador’s photo, which was better, and it made rounds around the world.” During his career, Vales also documented natural disasters such as the 1926 cyclone, capturing iconic images of Maceo Park facing the Havana waterfront. His work was always characterized by immediacy, technical precision, and deep humanity. In the forties, Bohemia publicly highlighted his bravery. In a note of January 13, 1946, it read: “In the times of tánganas in the Havana streets, Amador was the photographer who carried the best images to his newspaper. No one like him to get into a tumult and advance before the shots of the cut weapons.” His deafness, which could have been a disadvantage, became his best shield: Amador did not hear danger, only saw history. Final years and legacy Throughout his career, Amador witnessed military coups, gangster eras, and revolutions. In January 1959, already veteran, he picked up his camera again to portray Fidel Castro’s triumphant arrival in Havana and the first steps of the new revolutionary government. On August 25, 1965, Bohemia published a moving obituary: “At 68, the comrade Amador passed away, who for more than fifty years, since 1913, was Bohemia’s photojournalist and for other Havana publications. A true soldier of the news, through Amador’s camera more than half a century of Cuba’s history went by… In his concept of discipline and comradeship, Amador was a genuine forward-thinking worker, as well as an exemplar of generous humanity. His passing constitutes an irreparable loss for national journalism and a mourning for Bohemia.” His images became direct testimony of the country’s historical evolution, from cyclones to revolutions, including everyday life in a nation in transformation. Value and relevance Amador is remembered today as the first professional photographer of Bohemia and one of the foundational figures of Cuban photojournalism. His work, marked by courage, sensitivity, and social commitment, represents an essential chapter in the history of Latin American photography. His photographs come from the author’s personal, protected archive, and are considered pieces of great historical and documentary value, sought after by collectors and institutions that recognize in his work the pioneering perspective of someone who captured Cuba’s history from within. Note: The image of the Amador photographer that appears last in the description is not included with the photograph for sale.

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