28th May, 2026 16:00

OstLicht Photo Auction Spring 2026

 
  Lot 32
 

RENÉ BURRI (1933–2014)
Ernesto Che Guevara, Havana, January 1963

Estimate
€4,000 - €4,800
 

Buyer's premium: 20%

Droit de suite may apply to this lot

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Lot details

Start price: € 2,400

Estimate: € 4,000–4,800

English:

Gelatin silver print, printed later on double-weight semi-matte paper 40.3 x 30.1 cm, in very good condition. Signature, date, print date and title with pencil on the reverse. LITERATURE L. Bergquist, "Most revealing Report on Cuba since the missile Crisis", in: LOOK, April 9, 1963, p. 27; Hans-Michael Koetzle, René Burri. Fotografien, Berlin 2003, p. 226f.

Four years after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Magnum sent René Burri to Cuba to photograph Ernesto Che Guevara for the American magazine Look. Guevara was by then President of the National Bank and Minister of Industry, making him the second most powerful man in Cuba after Fidel Castro. Burri would later reflect on the making of his most famous photograph: "I was able to capture all his qualities – charm, persuasiveness and anger. But not once did he look into the camera."

subject to resale right

Deutsch:

Silbergelatineabzug, später geprintet auf kartonstarkem, halbmattem Papier 40,3 x 30,1 cm, in sehr gutem Zustand. Rückseitig Signatur, Datierung, Printdatum und Titel mit Bleistift. LITERATUR L. Bergquist, "Most revealing Report on Cuba since the missile Crisis", in: LOOK, April 9, 1963, S. 27; Hans-Michael Koetzle, René Burri. Fotografien, Berlin 2003, S. 226f.

Vier Jahre nach der kubanischen Revolution von 1959 schickte Magnum René Burri mit dem Auftrag nach Kuba, Ernesto „Che“ Guevara anlässlich eines Interviews für das amerikanische Magazin Look zu fotografieren. Che Guevara war mittlerweile Präsident der Nationalbank und Industrieminister, somit der nach Fidel Castro zweitmächtigste Mann auf Kuba. Burri wird später über die Entstehung seiner berühmtesten Aufnahme resümieren: "Ich konnte alle seine Eigenschaften ablichten, Charme, Überzeugungskunst und Wut. Aber kein einziges Mal hat er in die Kamera geschaut."

folgerechtspflichtig

Image size: 38 x 25.4 cm

 

Auction: OstLicht Photo Auction Spring 2026, 28th May, 2026

PREVIEW

23–27 May, 12 pm – 6 pm
28 May, 9 am – 5 pm
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For some lots, resale rights are charged at a hammer price of EUR 2,500 or above. This is for the benefit of the artist or his heirs. The fee is 4% for hammer prices from 2,500 to 50,000 EUR, 3% from 55,000 EUR. The buyer will be billed for the resale right. 

Relevant lots are marked with ‟Droit de suite may apply to this lot”.