Jorge Manach Art Critic? From the title itself —and as the renowned curator Roberto Cobas Amate highlighted in the opening words of the book presentation— it invites to debate. It would be necessary, anyway, to judge the undeniable contributions of Jorge Mañach —an intellectual with ample credentials, a leading figure in journalism and national essay writing— to Cuban culture, beyond ideological biases or more or less occasional discussions.

In his daily practice in some of the main publications of the time, Mañach pointed out —or in some cases glimpsed— many of the paths of artistic creation in the country, at a time of paradigm shift, just when the avant-garde was consolidating. Or even before.

This set of texts, selected by the unforgettable doctor Luz Merino, it’s proof of the greatness, shrewdness, and theoretical arsenal Mañach had when writing and publishing about events and figures of cultural life in the first half of the last century.

It may be that some of the texts, after years of relative oblivion, are not clear about it, but Mañach —and Cobas assures it— is an unavoidable figure in our republic of arts and letters. He established that starting point, let the controversy come, in any case he himself always encouraged it.

Approaching these materials will be particularly useful for students of art and culture in Cuba. But they were not texts written only for specialists. An integrating and motivating panorama is presented here, which could interest any art lover. Published by Letras Cubanas Editorial House, it’s for sale at bookstores and can be downloaded from Cubaliteraria website: http://www.cubaliteraria.cu/download/jorge-manach-critico-de-arte/

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff