São Paulo Series - Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo

My favourite art museum at São Paulo and it introduced me to Almeida Júnior, regarded as one of the most important Brazilian realist painters in the 19th century. The place was easy to find, located opposite the Luz station. Approaching it though from the warren of exits on the underground, I nearly got lost with my sense of direction (or lack of sense of direction).

The entrance is not particularly impressive. I thought I was entering a provincial art gallery and was not expecting much. But once inside, the space and the light was inviting. There was the usual security check including the surrender of bottled water. I wonder why this rule at São Paulo?

Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo

The walkways built over the courtyard

The exhibits really hit a note with me. Quite unusual for an art gallery, there were few guards watching your every move or waiting eagerly to admonish visitors for stepping over the yellow line. This created the right environment for enjoying the artwork at leisure. On the day, it was not crowded either, making it a most plesant visit.

My favourite painter without any doubt is Almeida Júnior. Such a talented painter. Alas, he was to meet a violent end when his cousin stabbed him to death for his affair with his cousin's wife.

Almedia Junior: Caipira cutting tobacco

Guiomar Fagundes: Street vendor from Bahia

Antonio Ferirgno: Black street vendor

Almeida Junior: Longing, a sublime painting

And now, onto other pieces of work that were equally interesting.

Yearning

A fun piece of sculpture

Next to the building is a large garden with a few interesting pieces of sculpture. There were many locals there walking, exercising, playing, and a Japanese woman practicing walking backwards.