Sem título 1930

Curator: This engaging watercolor and pen drawing, created by Bernardo Marques around 1930, presents a vibrant cityscape populated by a variety of characters. The piece remains untitled, yet it speaks volumes about its era. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the satirical undertones. The figures feel exaggerated, almost grotesque, yet they possess an undeniable charm. There’s something darkly humorous about the composition. Curator: I think you're right to point that out. Marques often used caricature to critique society and politics. The artist created illustrations during a period of political instability in Portugal, using social commentary as resistance. The use of pen and ink with watercolor to give an almost ephemeral, yet concrete quality. Editor: And that's interesting, if you observe more closely at the clothing they sport; the tailcoat and top hat for one gentleman, then the fur coat on the other—visual shorthands instantly communicating class distinctions, and how people wish to visually present themselves. These aren’t just outfits; they are performative identities in flux in this urban landscape. Even the signs displayed speak of an age. It evokes a complex social tapestry. Curator: Absolutely, and it’s interesting to look at the context surrounding these characters: The advertising, the hints of a consumer culture emerging— the banners for "the best hair pomade"— and of course the very visible commercial spaces with dressed up mannequins displayed in the windows as eye candy. Marques understood that to understand power, we also had to study desires. Editor: What resonates with me is how Marques used visual cues to establish collective memory and continuity. He has a very deft understanding of cultural identity that comes from these symbols—like an urban dreamscape where familiar icons begin to warp into new interpretations. Curator: It makes me wonder if his cityscapes were in any way a reflection on class struggles and social division. Editor: It prompts a reflection of those concerns indeed, from the architecture and the individual faces depicted! So yes, it truly brings both concerns full circle in this intriguing piece! Curator: Seeing the themes Marques addresses makes you think deeply. Editor: Absolutely. Looking closer offers great context into this world indeed!