A descoberta da terra 1941

Candido Portinari made this painting, A Descoberta da Terra, or "The Discovery of the Land," with oil on canvas. The canvas depicts the arrival of Portuguese explorers in Brazil. The image is dominated by figures in a boat, presumably Portuguese sailors, with stylized bodies that reflect the influence of European modernism. In the background, we see the coastline of Brazil, with Indigenous people awaiting the arrival of the ships. Portinari was a Brazilian artist who often focused on social and historical themes. In this work, he seems to be commenting on the complex legacy of colonialism in Brazil. On the one hand, it represents a moment of "discovery" and encounter between different cultures. On the other, it represents a moment of conquest and subjugation, with devastating consequences for the Indigenous population. By studying archival documents, historical accounts, and the writings of Portinari himself, we can gain a deeper understanding of the painting's meaning and its place within the cultural and political landscape of 20th-century Brazil.