Some of you may have noticed that in my photoshoots occasionally appears a dark-colored statue of a person's natural height, which many people approach to with a mix of curiosity and admiration. They all practice a curious ritual that, according to recent oral tradition, brings good luck to whoever touches at the same time the beard, the index finger of the left hand and the toe of the foremost foot. This statue is located right in front of the San Francisco de Asis Convent, in Old Havana, where the remains of this beloved Cuban character of the 1950s rest since his death in 1985. He was known as "The Gentleman from Paris".
This street character was much loved by the people who knew him, and is still respected and admired today. He became a symbol of the city of Havana. His real name was José María López Lledín, and he was a Spanish immigrant who arrived in Cuba in 1913. It is said that he lost his mental health after being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit in 1920. Since his release in 1934, he dedicated himself to wandering the streets of the city dressed in black. He was never a beggar. He only accepted help from people he knew and always gave away something in return. He was known to engage in conversations about philosophy, religion and politics. He was also known to be very kind and respectful.
In 1977 he was convinced to leave the streets by social workers and committed to a psychiatric hospital. There he was diagnosed with paraphrenia, a mild form of schizophrenia. Shortly before he died at the age of 86, in 1985, his doctor reports that José María came to his senses and had a completely lucid conversation with him, in what would be his last words.
PS: I have cried as one cries for someone very much loved writing these lines....
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