The solo exhibition held in São Paulo from December 1917 to January 1918 introduced Brazil to the aesthetic shocks of European modernism. By showcasing expressionist tendencies and cubist influence, Anita Malfatti challenged the prevailing conservative expectations of local audiences. Her work served as a disruptive catalyst, forcing a national dialogue on the purpose and form of contemporary art.
Early Education and Departure
Born in São Paulo in 1889, Malfatti received her initial instruction at Mackenzie Presbyterian University. Finding the local environment insufficient for her evolving artistic interests, she relocated to Berlin in 1912. During her time in Germany, she studied under Fritz Burger-Muhlfeld, Lovis Corinth, and Ernst Bischoff-Culm. This period immersed her in German Expressionism, a movement characterized by jarring subjects, emotive application, and a vibrant color palette.
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The 1912 Sonderbund exhibition in Cologne proved pivotal, exposing her to a broad spectrum of post-impressionist works and the rising force of Cubism. By 1915, she transitioned to New York to study with Homer Boss at the Independent School of Art, further refining her technique alongside instructors like George Bridgman and Dimitri Romanoffsky. The focus on comprehensive human anatomy and muscular structure during these years significantly strengthened her formal approach to painting.
The 1917 Scandal and Modernism
Upon returning to Brazil, her solo show, Exposição de Pintura Moderna, became a flashpoint for controversy. While she attempted to moderate the display by excluding her nude studies, the public rejected her cubist planar distortions and forceful draftsmanship as unintelligible. Critics viewed her international influences as alien, clashing with the era's desire for a traditional, realistic depiction of Brazilian life and culture.
The Group of Five
Malfatti gained support from critics like Oswald de Andrade, who recognized her alignment with European avant-garde shifts. This connection proved vital during the 1922 Week of Modern Art. As a member of the Group of Five, she helped restructure the discourse around artistic production in Brazil, bridging the gap between literary movements and visual arts until her death in São Paulo in 1964.
Fast facts
- Born: 1889, São Paulo
- Died: 1964, São Paulo
- Education: Mackenzie Presbyterian University
- Primary Field: Painting
- Movement: Avant-garde
- 1917 Exhibition Location: São Paulo
Questions readers ask
Why was her 1917 exhibition considered controversial?
Her work utilized cubist and expressionist techniques that deviated sharply from the conservative, fin-de-siècle romantic style expected by Brazilian audiences.
What is the Group of Five?
The Group of Five was a collective of modernist artists and writers, including Malfatti, who revolutionized the structure and perception of modern art in Brazil during the 1922 Week of Modern Art.
Achievements
- Movement: avant-garde
