Arts and Literature of Cuba

expressions of national feeling; by now it seemed possible, even

preferable to reference Cuba through idiomatic form and com-

position alone.” Artistically, Cuban-ness could be defined in

broader and subtler terms than previously. And in general,

Cuban artists during the 1940s toned down their political and

social activism.

In 1960, Fidel Castro ordered the creation of this enormous mural in the Viñales Valley.

The Mural of Prehistory, as it is known, is one of the world’s largest paintings, standing

almost 400 feet (120 meters) high. It pays tribute to Cuba’s cultural past, featuring paint-

ings of Native Americans, as well as dinosaurs drawn on rocks that date back to the

Jurassic Period. The Mural of Prehistory is a major tourist attraction.