Aleijadinho Et Eius Proditores - Right Panel 2014

Curator: Okay, here we have "Aleijadinho Et Eius Proditores - Right Panel" painted by Paulo Tercio in 2014. Oil on… well, it certainly makes an impression! What are your first thoughts? Editor: Immediately striking – theatrical, even. The composition angles sharply upwards, pulling your eye along the figure. And the color… that acid yellow face against the murky ground feels so unsettling! Like a fever dream. Curator: Yes! It does lean into the surreal. It has elements of portraiture, but decidedly skewed. You see how the figure has this intense, almost caricatured expression, all sharp teeth and that singular, wide eye. Editor: Absolutely. The neo-expressionist brushwork contributes to this raw emotion. The materiality is really prominent, I notice the distinct strokes of the paint layering. It's so loose, yet it builds such a clear form. Curator: And the narrative is ambiguous, isn't it? “Aleijadinho Et Eius Proditores” refers to a famous Brazilian sculptor, and "Eius Proditores" translates as 'his traitors'. The painting presents, possibly, an allegory, exploring themes of betrayal or perhaps internal struggles within an artistic identity. Editor: I love the tension. Is this figure Aleijadinho himself, writhing in some kind of internal torment? That jagged collar reads as restriction, while the upward gaze suggests hope? Curator: Precisely. Or maybe desperation! I always get a visceral, emotional read on the face. Look at that horn-like feature – is it metaphorical or a sign of some grotesque transformation? Tercio pulls together recognizable forms, expressionist brushwork, but leaves the meaning deliciously elusive. It certainly demands your attention. Editor: Yes, and those subtle shifts in hue, particularly around the figure’s red garments, creates this unsettling feeling of…vibrancy. It draws you in and yet keeps you at bay. A challenging and really memorable piece. Curator: Yes, absolutely, I agree. It stays with you.