Cuba Style:
	Graphics from the Golden Age of Design
	Vicki Gold Levi and Steven Heller
	Book Review
	Chris Colton
Cuba Style: Graphics from the Golden Age of Design by Vicki Gold Levi  and Steven Heller features hundreds of vintage graphics of Cuba from the 1920s to 1959.  It is a visual history of Cuba in its golden age, which parallels the wonderful design ages of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus modernism, and Vegas-style kitsch in a distinctly Cuban sensibility.
The cover liner aptly describes the treasures found in the pages.  “Sun-drenched beaches. Palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze.  Night clubs and casinos filled with cigar smoke and exotic women dressed in brightly colored costumes and dancing the rumba.  In the first half of the twentieth century, Cuba was an island of romance, a playground for wealthy European and American travelers in search of luxury and glamour.”  Hundreds of brightly colored graphics evoke the wonder and passion of La Vida Cubana.
The book is divided into several sections:  Visit Cuba, Souvenir Modern, Night Life Style, Cuban Seed, Latin Rhythms, Viva Cuba, and Cubano-Americano.  The graphics range from travel posters and postcards to alligator handbags and cigar band labels; all reflect the vibrant colors of the Latino culture and the glory of pre-Castro Cuba.
This book is a real eye-catcher.  The graphics are varied and the bright colors and stylized designs made me wish I could have visited the Cuba Chic that was illustrated on the pages.  Although before my time or memory, pre-Castro Cuba of the 40s and 50s was an exciting tropical destination.  These images recall an exotic romantic time.