Civilização, No. 21 1930

Bernardo Marques made this cover for the March 1930 edition of the magazine Civilização. Look at the flat planes of ochre and brown, punctuated by pops of red and black, and how they evoke the glamour of the Jazz Age. I imagine Marques in his studio, carefully laying down each geometric shape, building up the image like a collage. He’s really pushing the boundaries of representation, reducing figures to their essential forms. The red balloon held by a shadowy figure – is it a symbol of hope, or a warning? And the woman in the foreground, with her simplified features and bold bathing suit – what's her story? Marques was clearly inspired by the Cubists and Futurists. You can see the influence in his fragmentation of form and dynamic composition. But he brings his own sensibility to the mix, creating something fresh and new. Artists build upon the ideas of those who came before, pushing boundaries and forging new paths. It’s an ongoing conversation, a creative exchange that spans generations.