José A. Figueroa
from the series La imagen

from the series La imagen
from the series La imagen
from the series La imagen
CultureCuban
Titles
  • from the series La imagen
  • from the series The Image
Date1992, printed 2023
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 12 1/16 × 17 13/16 in. (30.6 × 45.2 cm)
Sheet: 15 15/16 × 19 13/16 in. (40.5 × 50.4 cm)
Mat: 19 11/16 × 23 5/8 in. (50 × 60 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Joan Morgenstern in honor of Raquel Carrera
Object number2023.278
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 314
On view

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

Over the course of decades, Alberto Korda’s protégé and longtime printer José Figueroa printed thousands of copies of Korda’s iconic portrait of Che Guevara. As he worked to fulfill the never-ending demand for Guerrillero heroico, in 1992, 25 years after Che’s death, Figueroa photographed dozens of fresh prints laid out on his bed to dry, an image that revealed his own awareness of the changing nature and role of photography in Cuba from servant of the socialist revolution to commodity and social commentary.

José Figueroa, discípulo e impresor de Alberto Korda, produjo miles de copias del icónico retrato de Che Guevara a lo largo de varias décadas. En 1992, 25 años después de la muerte del Che, aún trabajaba para satisfacer la interminable demanda del Guerrillero heroico cuando fotografió docenas de impresiones frescas secándose sobre su cama. Esta imagen revela su conciencia sobre la evolución y el papel cambiante de la fotografía en Cuba, que pasaba de ser una herramienta de la revolución socialista a convertirse en mercancía, así como en un vehículo para el comentario social.


ProvenanceThe artist, Havana; purchased by MFAH, 2023.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[Signed, titled and dated on the back of the print]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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