The work depicts several French innovations that significantly influenced Cuba during the 19th century, associated with prominent French engineering figures such as Charles Derosne, the Lamaur brothers, the Lumiere brothers, Pierre-Joseph Laborie, Jean-Francois Cail, Esteban Best, Jules Sagebien, and Esteban La Faye.

  During the mural’s unveiling, the French Ambassador to Cuba, Raphael Trannoy, highlighted that the project underscores the historical relationship between engineers from both countries—a connection that remains a source of pride.

  Trannoy noted that the piece is part of the lead-up to the 125th anniversary of bilateral ties, which will be celebrated next year.

  For his part, artist Yonlay Cabrera explained that upon seeing the call for submissions, he reflected on the role France played in global development—and specifically in Cuba’s development—particularly during the 19th century.

  “When you read about that period, France’s name comes up frequently. I found it compelling to explore those origins, drawing inspiration from the aesthetic of French technical blueprints,” he remarked.

  The visual design of the mural—executed in vinyl applied to the wall—centers on the language of technical drafting.

  It incorporates elements from actual historical blueprints, including those for the Lumiere cinematograph, the Derosne vacuum evaporator, horizontal mills and centrifuges, the Havana-Guines railway, hydraulic wheels and animal-powered mills, the Matanzas port customs house, and the pendulum-style sugarcane crusher.

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