Independence or Death! (The Ipiranga Shout) 1888

"Independence or Death!" was painted by Pedro Américo, most likely in his studio, with oil on a massive canvas. Look closely and you'll notice the artist's focus isn't solely on the grand gesture of Dom Pedro I declaring Brazil's independence. It's also in the figures of the common people - the farmers with their ox-carts – included at the margins of the painting. The materiality of paint, carefully applied to canvas, allowed Américo to create a layered narrative. One that merged the official story with the presence of the working class. The artist subtly acknowledges the labor upon which the nation was built. The theatricality of the scene, rendered through brushstrokes, reminds us that even historical paintings are constructed narratives. This approach challenges the traditional hierarchy placing painting above other forms of making, suggesting that all creative endeavors are embedded in broader social and political contexts.