Our Artist in Cuba Fifty drawings on wood. Leaves from the Sketch-book of a traveler, During the Winter of 1864-5.

Fifty woodcut drawings from a mid‑nineteenth‑century traveler paint an intimate portrait of Cuba in the winter of 1864‑5. The sketches capture bustling Havana streets, market stalls, café scenes, and even the occasional cock‑fight, all rendered with a blend of humor and precise observation. Though the images lean toward caricature, they retain a photographic fidelity that makes everyday moments feel vivid. The artist’s quick lines convey the island’s colour and rhythm with striking clarity.

Listening, you are guided through scenes such as the arrival of the steamship Columbia, a donkey‑dragged cart rattling down Calle Teniente, and a lone ‘booby’ perched on deck. Brief captions introduce colourful characters—a porter in bright clothing, a café patron nursing a cold, and the infamous ‘wicked flea’ of Havana—offering witty insight into local customs. The narration blends historical context with the artist’s eye, creating a vivid auditory tour for lovers of vintage illustration, travel history, or simply an evocative glimpse of 19th‑century Cuban life.