Carteles Magazine - July 26, 1959 Revolutionary Commemorative Issue
A historic issue of Carteles, one of Cuba's most iconic and influential magazines, celebrating the sixth anniversary of the July 26, 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks—the event that launched the Cuban Revolution. Published just seven months after the revolutionary triumph on January 1, 1959, this issue captures a pivotal moment in Cuban history.
The stunning cover features a bold modernist design with a silhouetted figure raising a fist in revolutionary triumph, rendered in dramatic navy, red, and white geometric shapes. The large "26" prominently displays the revolutionary date that would become Cuba's national holiday. This Art Deco-influenced design reflects the magazine's tradition of cutting-edge graphic arts.
Carteles was founded and shaped by legendary caricaturist Conrado W. Massaguer, who made it one of Latin America's premier magazines from the 1920s through the 1950s. Under director Antonio Ortega and graphic director Carlos Fernandez, this July 26, 1959 issue represents Carteles in transition—embracing the revolution while maintaining its visual sophistication. The magazine would cease publication in 1960 as the revolution consolidated control over Cuban media.