The figure of the National Hero of Cuba, José Martí, has been recreated time after time by the artist of the island. Each epoch has left a version about ''our best man'', appearing on canvas from the most realist and classical images until the multiple and contemporary vision, far from conservatism, brought by 30 painters in the sample Yo soy un pintor gigante, opened with motive of the 150 anniversary of his birth in 2003.


Ernesto Rancaño... is... one of these artists who in more than one ocassion have made of Martí`s imagination, the main motive and reason in his pictures.

La izada, milestone painting from the post-medieval movement, the acrylics on wood Susurro de poetas, which integrated the Cuban exhibition at the Capilla del Hombre and Juanes de la leyenda de la Bahía de Nipe, are some of the art works created by Rancaño (Havana, 1968) about the Cuban National Hero.

I always return to Martí`s image because is one of the existences of this country that made me feel proud about being Cuban. He is a noble human being who left a huge heritage for our identity as nation, besides it`s an image that gains everyone`s sensibility because of his work''.

De Luces y Soledades, the last creation of this young and talented painter about topics on Martí, is based on the verse ''Todo lo que lleva luz se queda solo'' (Everyone who carries light ends alone'', from the well-known Yugo y Estrella.

"It`s like a path to a desired place. For me, is the ilumination not only of the figure, it alsohas to do with the light of our island. More than a Master`s portray, it`s an outline of Cuba'', he added.


Rancaño affirms that his new creation shows like no other a Martí in a half way between inocence and naughtiness. ''In general all I paint is like this. I don't do it by purpose, however, my faces are childish. People says I`m an infant with moustache. But in this specific case, I think Martí deliverately coincides with this intention, because for me he was like a child, due to his eternal sensibility. Despite he grew up and adquired new responsabilities, he never lost his tenderness for the little things. The naughtiness is present, above all in his eyes. Although it's not easy to notice, because they are details, through them the entire island is reflected''.

Excerpted from Entre el orgullo y la permanencia by Daynet Rodríguez Sotomayor.
Published at Juventud Rebelde Journal, May19, 2004.