At Bistrot 

Have you ever heard of Amadeo De Souza Cardoso? The Portuguese artist was one of the first modern painters in his country. His work combined diverse stylistic influences, from Impressionism and Cubism to Futurism and Expressionism. So why is he so little known on an international scale? 👇 This small oil painting, 'At the Bistro', epitomises the artist's diverse use of stylistic influence. As a genre painting, the work depicts a scene from everyday life: a group of people gathered around a table in a casual restaurant. We see playing cards scattered on the tabletop. 🃏 Here, De Souza Cardoso has used thick brushstrokes to reduce the figures to their most basic forms. Take a look at the faces of the two figures who look out at the viewer. There is a complete lack of detail – they have no noses, and their eyes are blank smears of red paint. This creates a sense of mystery and anonymity that is uncommon in genre painting. Do you find it unsettling? 😦 The brushstrokes are vividly expressive, giving the viewer an impression of energy and noise that is fitting for the painting's social subject. When paired with the vivid colour palette, the painting communicates the chaos and hubbub of modern life. The artist underwent both traditional and unconventional forms of training. He studied at both the Lisbon School of Fine Arts and the Académie Vitti in Paris – where such figures as the Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) taught! As well as this impressive education, De Souza Cardoso gained experience in painting commercial caricatures (exaggerated portraits). Can you recognise this mishmash of styles in 'At the Bistro'? 'At the Bistro' sold for €81,266,00 in 2011, suggesting that the artist's popularity is on the rise. Though his work rivals the most celebrated painters associated with the avant-garde, De Souza Cardoso has been the subject of only two retrospective exhibitions. This is as a result of his early death, which cut short his promising career. The artist died at just 30, falling victim to the 1918 flu pandemic which infected a third of the global population (commonly called the Spanish flu). 🤧 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham