A primeira missa no Brasil 1948

Candido Portinari painted “A primeira missa no Brasil” with oils, on what looks like a really big canvas. It's a history painting. The picture plane feels shallow, figures and objects rendered with simplified forms and an earthy palette. Look at the concentrated expression of the kneeling figures! The thick paint accentuates their presence. I imagine Portinari layering strokes, scraping back, and building up textures to capture the gravity of this moment. The browns, ochres, and muted greens evoke a sense of solemnity. See how the light catches the edges of the robes and highlights the faces? It's like he's sculpting with color! I wonder if he was thinking about Diego Rivera or other muralists when he made this. There's a similar concern with conveying historical narratives through a distinctly modern sensibility. Artists are always talking to each other, you know, even across time! Each brushstroke is a testament to the enduring power of painting to explore our shared human experience.