O Almoço do Trolha 1950

Julio Pomar made this painting, O Almoço do Trolha, with an expressive, graphic energy. You can see it in the heavy lines and how the colors are laid down in distinct patches. It gives the whole scene a kind of weight, doesn't it? The thick, almost sculptural paint handling really grabs me. It's like Pomar is building the image as much as he’s painting it, and I think you can really see that in the man's face. Each stroke feels intentional, carving out the forms, emphasizing the textures of their lives. It all makes me think of those post-war social realist painters, people like Fernand Léger, who also wanted to capture the dignity and struggle of working people. It’s a good reminder that art is always in conversation. It's never really finished.