Chorinho 1942

Candido Portinari made this painting, Chorinho, using shades of blue, white, and black to depict a band playing music. You can see the history of the painting in the many different tones and shapes – you can imagine him trying something, wiping it off, and then trying something new. I wonder what Portinari was thinking when he made this painting. Did he hear this music in a club? Did he feel a deep sense of joy, sorrow, or something else? The colors have a cool tone which for me, creates a somber atmosphere. The man holding his chest looks as if he is being moved by the sounds. The painting itself is a conversation between forms, colors, and the relationships between them, like a piece of music in paint. I feel like all artists are having this same conversation, and Portinari has something important to add!