Alberto Korda (Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez)

© National Portrait Gallery, London

1 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation

Alberto Korda (Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez)

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1964
8 in. x 9 3/4 in. (202 mm x 249 mm) image size
Purchased, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x132302

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 1567 portraits, Sitter in 137 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait is part of a series of photographs Kar took of Fidel Castro's friend and official photographer. Korda appears in front of a mural commemorating the 26 of July Movement which, led by Castro, succeeded in overthrowing General Batista's regime in 1959. Korda is best known for his portrait of Che Guevara, Guerrillero Heroico (1960) which has become a defining image of revolution and protest.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Freestone, Clare (appreciation) Wright, Karen (appreciation), Ida Kar Bohemian Photographer, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 March to 19 June 2011), p. 126 Read entry

    Korda was born Alberto Diaz Gutiérrez in Havana. He formed Korda Studios in partnership with Luis Pierce (also photographed by Kar) in 1956. This portrait is part of a series of photographs Kar took of Fidel Castro's friend and official photographer. He appears in front of a mural commemorating the 26th of July Movement which, led by Castro, succeeded in overthrowing General Fulgencio Batista's regime in 1959. Korda is best known for his portrait of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Guerrillero Heroico (1960), which, since the late 1960s, has become one of the most iconic images of revolution and protest.

Placesback to top

  • Place made and portrayed: Cuba (Havana, Cuba)

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1964back to top

Current affairs

Harold Wilson narrowly wins the general election for the Labour Party, the first of his four election victories.
Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans become the last people to be executed in the United Kingdom before capital punishment was abolished in 1965.
The Sun newspaper replaces the Daily Herald.

Art and science

Top of the Pops begins its reign as the longest running television music show. The first broadcast was presented by Jimmy Savile and included the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, The Hollies and The Beatles, who were the show's first number 1 with I Want to Hold Your Hand.

International

The Civil Rights Act is passed in the USA, outlawing discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. The Act abolished the 'Jim Crow Laws' in the Southern States, making forced segregation illegal.
After spending two years in prison Nelson Mandela is sentenced to Life in Prison for the crimes of sabotage and crimes equivalent to treason against the Republic of South Africa.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.