Alberto Korda (1928–2001) - Icónica imagen de Fidel...

Extraordinary auction: "Alberto Korda, personal archive". Original photographs from the personal archive of Alberto Korda, certified by his sole universal heir, Diana Díaz López. Note about this photograph in particular: * Fidel Castro appears alongside two peasants in a serene and deeply symbolic scene taken in the eastern region of Cuba in 1964. The three pose naturally, framed by the rural landscape, with a majestic imperial palm in the background dominating the composition. The image evokes the close relationship between the Revolution and the peasantry, showing Fidel integrated into his most essential surroundings: the land, the people, and the Cuban nature. A photograph of great visual strength and human value, capturing the leader’s proximity to the people and the country’s deep identity. * This photograph bears the photographer’s dry stamp + COA. It is important to know that copies produced after this period lost much of their quality because the negatives deteriorated over the years and marks appeared that made it impossible to reproduce the same quality and tonal intensity as the versions we offer. An unprecedented historical, artistic, and documentary value proposal 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 image of the Cuban Revolution but also became an icon of 20th-century history. Beyond his recognized authorship of the mythical portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara —a image that has transcended multiple 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 no 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 in the international market. One can observe in the blacks of the photographs the extreme image quality directly from the negative, a level rarely achievable 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 accompanied by an authenticity certificate issued and personally signed by Diana Díaz, the sole universally recognized legal heir of Alberto Korda’s legacy by his father and the only person authorized to certify the artwork. 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 direct endorsement of the person legally and by inheritance authorized 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 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 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 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 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 in complex contexts. His humanist style 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, a poet in black and white. And his personal archive — tightly guarded until today — represents a vast artistic and documentary reserve of enormous historical value. An exclusive opportunity for collectors and institutions This event is not only relevant to private collectors but also to cultural institutions, museums, archives, foundations, and universities wishing to incorporate a piece of contemporary history signed by one of its visual protagonists into 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. Turns these pieces into collection items of extremely high cultural and economic value, whose prestige and market value will only rise with 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 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, where they specialized in portraits of celebrities, models, and advertising. His talent for framing, light, and composition 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 turned 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 in black and white 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 an ability to find beauty and humanity in any scene. Korda claimed that his photography was “of soul, not of technique,” and that authenticity is felt in each 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, Che appears as a symbol of rebellion and resolve. Curiously, the image was not published by the Revolución daily 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 1968 to civil rights campaigns. Despite the image’s popularity, Korda never charged for its use — except when it was used for commercial purposes, 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 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 believed one of his most important series was 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 catalogues, and his works form 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 possesses not only artistic value but also historical, political, and cultural significance. 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, engaging in 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 are other illustrative photographs. Important: The photographs will be shipped well protected so they reach their recipient in perfect condition.

Utropspris:SEK 13,444.24

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