A Forgotten Atlas of Erwin Raisz: “Atlas de Cuba”

Summary

The article "A Forgotten Atlas of Erwin Raisz: 'Atlas de Cuba'" by José Jesús Reyes Nuñez examines the "Atlas de Cuba," published in 1949 by the Institute of Geographical Exploration at Harvard University. This atlas was the result of a collaboration between Erwin Raisz, a Hungarian-born American cartographer, and Gerardo Canet, a Cuban geographer and cartographer. The article highlights that the atlas aimed to provide a "living picture of Cuban Geography" within 64 pages, covering 34 themes through a rich combination of maps, pictures, charts, and text. These themes included the country's history, physical geography, social parameters (such as standard of living, health, social composition, and government), and the national economy. Its uniqueness lies in merging Raisz's delicate physiographic drawing style with Canet's interest in representing a broad spectrum of data using various graphic tools, making the information accessible and understandable for the general public while maintaining scientific value. The article details the backgrounds of both authors, particularly Raisz's development of the physiographic method and his earlier collaboration with Salvador Massip on the "Diagrama Fisiográfico de Cuba" in 1929, and Canet's career and time at Harvard under Raisz's tutelage. It also analyzes how the atlas's extension, design, and format differed markedly from traditional national atlases, positioning it as a precursor to multimedia atlases. Despite being a significant work of Cuban national cartography between 1949 and 1969, and arguably the country's first national atlas, the article notes that it was deliberately ignored by Cuban authorities after Canet's emigration in 1961, becoming unknown to new generations of Cubans. Paradoxically, its international valuation has grown, making it a rare and valuable piece of universal cartography. The author concludes by aiming to contribute to a more complete picture of Cuban geography and cartography's development in the first half of the 20th century, hoping this work serves as inspiration and a starting point for further research.