Scarecrow 1959

This painting of a scarecrow was made by Candido Portinari, and is full of flat planes of color and carefully considered marks, so it has that process-oriented feel. I love how the paint is laid on, thick and opaque in some places, especially in the scarecrow's patchwork body. The color choices too. It’s mostly muted tones, but then there are these pops of red and blue that make the whole thing sing. Look closely at how Portinari renders the texture of the field. The vertical strokes of paint create a sense of depth and movement, almost like the wind is blowing through the crops. The scarecrow's mask-like face reminds me of some of the modernist sculptors like Modigliani, who looked to non-western art for inspiration. Portinari makes something deeply personal that feels so universal. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation with what came before.