O Lavrador de Café 1939

"O Lavrador de Café" (The Coffee Grower), painted in 1939 by Candido Portinari, depicts a solitary Black man, a coffee farmer, standing in a field with a hoe. His bare feet stand firmly on the earth, while he looks off into the distance with a melancholic expression. The painting is a powerful commentary on the social and economic conditions of the Brazilian working class, a theme that Portinari explored throughout his career. The image of a single worker against a vast landscape emphasizes the isolation and hardship of their lives. The composition and the man's stoic posture convey a sense of quiet dignity and resilience. This painting is a poignant representation of the struggles of the working class during a time of significant social change.