Cuban Republican Period

The End of the Cuba war of independence (1895-1898) brought about the island's transition from colony to republic. Needless to say, the founding of the new nation had a profound effect on the way art studies and art expression evolved over the following years. The new republic had, among its many challengers, the need to create a distinctive national identity. This entailed establishing symbols meant to foster feeling of patriotism and national pride as well as founding educational and cultural institution that would not only support the proliferation of arts and literature, but that would also contribute to the idea of unique and intrinsically Cuban society.

Many Cuban artists surpassed their roles as visual interpreters and pedagogues. They went on to play a significant role in the development of both educational and cultural institutions. One of the most important institution founded during the republican period was national academy of Art and Letters. Created in 1910, its extensive mission was to educate and publish works that would enhance knowledge about the theory and history of fine art as well as compile artistic and literary works, promote cultural events, and contribute to the restoration and conservation of public monuments , various Republican period artists  such as, Miguel Arias Bordoy, Esteban Valderrama, Aurelio Melero, y Fernandez de Castro, were members of the academy's board of trustees.

San Alejandro Academy Common Room

One of the most notable individual contributor to art culture in Cuba was Leopoldo Romañach who is affectionately regarded as the "Father of Cuban Painting". He taught at the academy for more than fifty years as chair of the colorist department and influenced generations of artists. His non-dogmatic teachings gave him a major supportive role in the artistic renovation that evolved into the Cuban avant -garde movement. Avant-garde artist Amelia Pelaez said of him " Sufficiently generous and good will, he did not stand in the way of his best student's natural inclination."