Family 1940

Jose de Almada-Negreiros’ painting “Family” presents us with a scene of intimate connection rendered in muted tones. The palette is earthy, dominated by reds, browns, and blues, and the brushwork is smooth. The painting is built from layers of thin paint, creating translucent planes of color which give shape to the figures. Almada-Negreiros constructs this scene with a gentle hand, emphasizing softness and warmth. I’m drawn to the way the light falls across the mother's face, highlighting the gentle curve of her cheek and the pensive expression in her eyes. It feels like a tender moment caught in time. Almada-Negreiros’ style shares some common ground with that of Picasso, but it’s fair to say Almada-Negreiros' vision is more humanistic than purely formal. His work encourages us to think about how paintings create feelings, and how we can build meaning and understanding by immersing ourselves in the painterly process.