Alberto Korda

Few images in modern history have transcended photography to become a global symbol. Captured in Havana in 1960 by Fidel Castro’s personal photographer, Alberto Korda, this commanding portrait of Che Guevara — later known as Guerrillero Heroico — became one of the most reproduced and recognizable images of the twentieth century.

Here, Che’s gaze is distant yet defiant. His beret marked with the lone star. His expression neither smiling nor stern — but resolute. It is a moment suspended between idealism and destiny.

This original vintage oversized gelatin silver DBW photograph (19.5 x 15 7/8 inches) carries the gravitas of its era. The large format gives extraordinary presence to Che’s piercing eyes and sculptural features. The silver gelatin surface renders rich tonal depth, from the dark velvet of the beret to the luminous highlights across his face.

Unlike later mass-produced posters and screen-prints, this vintage photographic print preserves the immediacy of the original negative — the subtle grain, the soft gradation, the authentic mid-century paper stock. It is a historical object, not merely an image.

Stamped on the verso, the photograph reflects period production consistent with Korda’s studio output. Its scale and vintage character place it firmly within the orbit of early Cuban revolutionary photography.

This is not simply a portrait of Che Guevara. It is the visual manifesto of revolution.

A photograph that became mythology.

For collectors of political history, Cold War ephemera, Cuban Revolution artifacts, or iconic 20th-century photography, this piece represents a museum-level cultural artifact — a defining image of an era when ideology, youth, and rebellion converged.