• One of the very rare forms of art that have survived the centuries is rock art, although samples of this are scarce and valuable!

 

• Visitors to Brazil should visit the Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí State, where the art is estimated to date back millennia, to about 13 000 BCE (Before our Common Era). There is also some ceramic work that has been dated to between 800 and 1 400 of our Common Era (CE), as well as small stone amulets, which all came from the Marajoara people.          

 

• When the Roman Catholic priests came to Brazil to civilise (in their view) and educate the natives in the 16th century, they brought with them their own Baroque style of art and design. Sculptures and paintings of religious and biblical features were dramatic, bold and prevalent. This style continued well into the 18th century, aided by the gold rush.    

 

• The 20th century saw another change in style towards a contemporary trend. Sensitive issues (such as racial inequality) were broached in the form of cutting-edge pieces. Artists were encouraged to adopt their own personal identity and creativity, rather than to opt for the safer styles made popular by others. The ancient rituals of body painting and feather art were resurrected and integrated into modern pieces for an intertextual effect.

 

• Some well-known and respected modern Brazilian artists include:

• Cândido Portinari
• Alberto da Veiga Guignard
• José Pancetti
• Aldo Bonadei
• Mário Zanini