Cuba Theme Issue (v. 22) (The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts) - Tapa blanda

The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts, founded in 1986 and now published by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, explores themes relating to The Wolfsonian collection and to the visual language of objects. It conveys to readers the power of design and shows how design shapes and reflects human values and experience. From 1875 to 1945, the arts and architecture flourished in Cuba. The passing of power from the old patrician class to the emerging middle class together with the emergence of the free enterprise system contributed to a vibrant exchange of ideas and opportunities between the island and the United States. When Cuba gained independence from Spain in 1899, its quest to achieve its own national identity, especially in the arts, took on a special poignancy. Cuban artists and architects initially looked to the distant colonial past as a way to begin a new expression of Cuban culture. Meanwhile, U.S. architects were designing an impressive range of Art Deco and Streamline Modern buildings in Havana. These thirteen essays on Cuban art and architecture are organized into four groups: 1875 to 1910, 1911 to 1930, painting, and 1931 to 1945. Published by The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Narcisco G. Menocal is Professor of Architectural History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.