A Negra 1923

Tarsila do Amaral painted A Negra using oil on canvas, and you can see how she's smoothed out the surfaces, almost polishing them. It’s like she's aiming for a certain kind of simplification. The colour feels essential here, doesn't it? That orange-brown that makes up the figure's skin, it's so striking and makes the figure pop. Look closely, and you'll notice how she builds the form with subtle gradations, giving it a sculptural presence. There's this one spot, right at the crease of her arm, where you can see the brushwork. It's a small detail, but it reminds you of the artist's hand, the physical act of applying paint to the canvas. It reminds me of Picasso's treatment of the human form, but with a Brazilian twist, and with a very strong understanding of the figure. It's like she's saying, "Here's a way of seeing that's both familiar and totally new."