Fernando Lemos: Literary Illustrations

Fernando Lemos emigrated from Portugal to Brazil in 1953, settling in São Paulo. Upon arrival, he was already a photographer and graphic illustrator. Thus, he began to collaborate with the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo, producing images that accompanied literary pieces.

We have brought together original drawings by the artist that illustrated poems and stories printed in that newspaper in the 1950s. In each piece, there is mention of literary works and their authors. The geometric features used were a sign of modernity, as abstract art had just arrived in Brazil, and MAM was one of the institutions responsible for promoting it. Thus, it is possible to revisit a period in our culture in which graphic arts and literature maintained a creative and powerful relationship.

Felipe Chaimovich
Curator