Portuguese Landscapes
The representation of the landscape, that is, of the observed territory, is a constant throughout the history of art, its relevance being notable for telling the history and memory of spaces. Without ever forgetting their origins, many artists have come to represent Portuguese traditions in their paintings, influenced by the impressionists and naturalists such as Silva Porto and Carlos Reis, among others. In a particular and harmonious way, these artists have built a path from north to south, on the beauty of Portuguese landscapes, whether urban or rural. Travel, without leaving your home, along the paths of Portugal, based on the works of these seven artists and discover the particularities of the spaces represented.
Graça Morais
In a relationship between the body, thought and experience,Graça Morais creates works that convey to the viewer his memory of the rural world, of the village of Vieiro in Trás-os-Montes, where he was born and raised. The artist paints with strong strokes the faces of a village, the stories of the Portuguese people, their customs, the way of working and the power of motherhood. Thus, it offers us a very personal view of the characteristics of the Portuguese people, through the clothes and activities portrayed as hunting.
Júlio Capela
The landscape is a constant in the work ofJúlio Capela, being possible to find pieces from several Portuguese places. In this case, we will analyze one of the several representations created by the artist about Porto. Attentive to the characteristics of the city, Júlio Capela a carefully portrays the buildings and the estuary, in a very particular way due to the tones used and the contrasts of light and shadow. It is really with its color palette that the city is transformed and becomes unique. From acrylic to watercolor passing through graphite, Júlio Capela is an artist who ventures to obtain a remarkable portrait from the Porto riverside to the Alentejo plains.
Ernani Oliveira
The Aveiro district, particularly Costa Nova, has been the focus of representations ofErnani Oliveira. In his works, the artist offers us his vision of the famous waterfront where the wooden straws are lined up, painted in stripes of various colors alternating with white. These houses, which once served as shelter and storage for fishermen, have now become holiday homes. the works ofErnani Oliveira become unique due to several factors, such as the constant connection to geometry and the choice of strong and vivid colors. A new dimension and vision of Costa Nova is established, through the attentive eye and artistic acumen of this artist.
António Neves
Among the mountains, rivers, bridges and architectural spaces,antonio snows he conceives an image of cities using the watercolor technique. This work represents one of the most important religious buildings in Portugal, the church of Santa Cruz in Coimbra. Founded by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, this former male monastery of Romanesque origin acquired ornaments from other artistic movements over time. This is the case of the façade depicted in the painting byantonio snows, intervened at the beginning of the 16th century, in collaboration between Diogo Pires, o Moço, Nicolau de Chanterene, John of Ruão and João de Castilho. On the screen António Neves intensely explores pigments, offering the viewer a warm and dynamic view of the students' city.
Jean Christophe Espieux
The streets of the Portuguese capital tell life stories, intertwined with art.Jean Christophe Espieux captures the authenticity, life and unique beauty of the small streets of this big city. From the colors and textures, the artist manages to completely capture the essence of the stairs, the facades of the houses and even the activities of the citizens. A cityscape full of details that brings the viewer closer to the portrayed space, practically offering the smells, sounds and tastes of the great Lisbon.
Molina
The beauty of Portuguese architecture in Faro is mirrored in the work ofMolina, in an elegant and geometric way. In a single piece, the artist demonstrates the history of the Portuguese crusades and the architecture of pure, clean lines that are common in southern Portugal. Thus, a chronology ends up being created, from the Mozarabic stay in this city, from the cultural heritage of the old fortified structures to the present day with the typical houses with white facades, ornaments with geometric shapes and colorful colors around the doors and windows.
Mota Urgeiro
The beauty and tranquility of natural landscapes and rural activities are the focus of works byMota Urgeiro. Never forgetting his origins, the Portuguese artist paints the simple landscapes of the various cities in Portugal, demonstrating their particularities in a peaceful and harmonious way. In this work, the view of Funchal is portrayed with a strong and bright pigmentation that validates the welcoming and warm atmosphere of this city. The intense influence of impressionist and naturalist painters can be seen in his works by the intensity of the layer of paint on the canvas.
