Aleijadinho Et Eius Proditores - Central Panel Left 2014

Curator: Here we have "Aleijadinho Et Eius Proditores - Central Panel Left" by Paulo Tercio, created in 2014 using oil paint. It's an intriguing piece referencing the historical figure of Aleijadinho, a renowned Brazilian sculptor. Editor: The intensity is the first thing that strikes me. It's overwhelmingly dark, almost claustrophobic, and then those vivid flashes of red around the mouth, the yellow of the eyes, just cut through the gloom. It feels almost like a figure emerging from a nightmare. Curator: Indeed. The title is quite suggestive, placing Aleijadinho amidst his "traitors." In the historical context, Aleijadinho faced significant challenges, including accusations and betrayals throughout his career as a mixed-race artist in colonial Brazil. This piece could be seen as an exploration of those struggles and the social dynamics that defined his life. Editor: The use of the dark background and high contrast enhances that feeling of torment. The heavy brushstrokes lend an almost tortured texture, it's very Expressionistic. You can almost feel the weight of the character's mental state pressing outward. Do you think it is an underpainting? Curator: Yes, it seems to borrow some features of underpainting that could allow the painter to achieve this tonality. Moreover, I wonder about the "traitors" – who were they, and what role did they play in constructing Aleijadinho's legacy, not only as an artist but as a cultural symbol of resistance and creativity under oppressive circumstances? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, but now you mention it, the cropping feels deliberate too. Cutting the figure off to the side suggests they are squeezed and perhaps stifled by surrounding forces, is this maybe some social commentary? The limited palette is certainly effective in drawing attention to that gaunt visage. Curator: Absolutely. And in doing so, the artist compels us to engage with a chapter of Brazilian history marked by racial prejudice and artistic suppression. Perhaps it speaks to how artistic genius can be both celebrated and undermined by the society in which it exists. Editor: This piece gives you a lot to think about. It is stark in its depiction of mental struggle. Curator: Yes. This painting makes me think of the power dynamics within artistic expression and its role in societal reckoning.