These dramatic images could be taken from the set of a Hollywood movie, but they’re real – documenting 10 extraordinary days in the history of Cuba that reverberated around the world. On New Year’s Day 1959, corrupt Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista was defeated by Che Guevara’s rebels…
Revolution
…and the Argentine-born guerrilla leader became one of the most famous faces in history, helped by generations of students, who tacked the famous image of ‘Che’ to their bedroom walls (apparently ignoring the vicious regime that he and Fidel Castro later inflicted on the people of Cuba). But while that one iconic image of Che lives on in the mind, these remarkable pictures – taken by photographer Burt Glinn – reveal the genuine euphoria that enveloped Havana when Batista’s brutal rule came to an end. You can see them at the Serena Morton Gallery in North Kensington, London, until 28 November.
Photos: Burt Glinn/Magnum Photos
You can see Glinn’s photos at the Serena Morton Gallery in North Kensington, London, until 28 November.
