Di Cavalcanti

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1916–1976

Genres

visual arts, modernism

Biography

Emiliano Augusto Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Melo, widely known as Di Cavalcanti, was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1897. He stood out as one of the leading painters, draftsmen, and illustrators of Brazilian modernism, having been the creator and organizer of the historic 1922 Modern Art Week, held in São Paulo. His artistic journey was marked by a deep immersion in genuinely national themes, such as carnival, mulatas, and bohemian life, consolidating an aesthetic of vibrant colors and sinuous forms that helped define the country's visual identity.

Throughout his life, the artist moved between Brazil and Europe, mingling with prominent figures of the intelligentsia and facing political persecution due to his membership in the Brazilian Communist Party. In literature and the visual arts, he collaborated and associated with leading figures such as Mário de Andrade, Oswald de Andrade, Anita Malfatti, and Tarsila do Amaral. His work gained international recognition with awards at biennials and exhibitions in various world capitals, in addition to large murals and sacred works commissioned by personalities such as Oscar Niemeyer for architectural landmarks in Brasília.

Di Cavalcanti passed away in 1976 in Rio de Janeiro, leaving an immeasurable legacy to Brazilian culture and being posthumously honored by filmmakers such as Glauber Rocha. The centenary of his birth in 1997 was celebrated with various retrospective exhibitions in major cultural centers across the country, reaffirming his importance in the consolidation of national modern art.