I Was Cuba: Treasures from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection

by Kevin Kwan, Peter Castro (Contributor), Ramiro Fernandez (Contributor)

While most think of Cuba as a mythical island of rum, rumba, and revolution, period photographs reveal a more complexplace. I Was Cuba is an original look at Cuban history as seen through the Ramiro Fernandez Collectionarguably the world's leading archive of Cuban photos and ephemera. I Was Cuba showcases rare, vernacular images from the nineteenth century through the revolutionary period, exploring the everyday and the eccentric. With texts from famed Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas (Before Night Falls), this captivating volume is an intimate view into a bygone era of glamour, political upheaval, and astounding visual culture.

Genres: Travel

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2007

Reviews

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was Cuba:Treasures from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection.Nice little book,Binding isn't as good,Photos are superb except a few.The photographs that do not belong are a heartwarming (NOT to me)photo of the Massmurderers Che(With his daughter),Fidel with his Son,and a couple others of fidel and "revolutionaries" and Raul. Although the Reasoning according to The author for the interview in this book is because he felt the photography should be included despite his opposition.I believe it could be to placate the San Francisco Based Publisher of the book,Chronicle.There are some wonderful photos in here,I Love the Cuba Grand Prix racing pictures and the Sagua To Habana rally Race pictures.They should have made the binding better for the book if you are not careful it can come off the spine somewhat even if new and packed right.There is a follow up to the book which I will add,Overall I wish there would have been Pictures of Grau and Prio but it is a collection from the Author/compiler.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When most Americans think of Cuba, they envision mid century cars and crumbling building facades. Yet, Cuba has a rich and diverse past and embraced the art of photography just one year after its invention. I Was Cuba exhibits the photo collection of Cuban exile Ramiro Fernandez. It spans the 1880s through 1960s, during which time Cuba was governed by Spain, achieved independence, and was ruled by various factions culminating in the Communist Revolution.

As seen in the photos, these were times of great wealth and great poverty. African slaves were freed but hadn’t means to prosper. Tourism, particularly by Americans, made lodging and entertainment industries flourish. Agriculture thrived, while at the same time the natural environment was pristine.

The changes in photo technique as well as subject and handling of subject throughout the years is fascinating. Many family and personal photos are included, from late 19th century through early 20th, and again in the 1950s. Entertainers like showgirls, singers, and even a Scandinavian transsexual appear. Boxers and racecar drivers, popular until Fidel Castro banned such activities, are also featured. Photos of farming, especially tobacco, give us a good sense of the industry, and street scenes portray daily life.

There are a few rare images of Castro and Che Guevara, including family photos. Changes in architecture are photographically noted. Of particular interest are changes in style between 1956 and 1964, before and after Communism, when curving lines turn rectilinear. Palm trees, especially the esteemed Royal Palm, and the famous Malecon ocean promenade are frequent subjects. Postcards and other popular ephemera round out the collection.

The full-page images are presented without text, except for a few excerpts from Before Night Falls, Cuban exile Reinaldo Arenas’ memoir. In a key in the back of the book, each image is reprinted with date and commentary. Because of limited space, it is helpful to know Spanish to understand the subtleties of slogans and place names that appear in a few of the photos. Another short section is an interview of Ramiro Fernandez about his photo collection, which contains thousands of images not in the book.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Cuba and its history. Also, photographers and photo history buffs will enjoy the diversity and historical and technical aspects of the photos.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enough to make you beg for US-Cuba policy to change to allow Americans to visit this amazing island once again.