Pássaros 1995

Rene Bertholo created this work, titled “Pássaros,” using paint on canvas. Bertholo was part of a generation of Portuguese artists who came of age during a period of political turbulence and social change in Portugal. His personal experience of living under a dictatorship and then witnessing the transition to democracy likely influenced his artistic perspective. The artwork presents an ambiguous, dream-like scenario. The birds which appear to be the focus of the piece are shown with sharp, beak-like protrusions that suggests violence. The floating abstract shapes seem to echo this sharp quality, in this violent scenario. Bertholo's exploration of these themes invites us to consider the complex interplay between freedom and oppression, and the ways in which these forces shape both individual and collective identities. The tension apparent in the image highlights the artist's own personal struggle.