The illustration in America Brasileira between the tradition and modernity

Abstract

The article analyzes the illustration in América Brasileira: Resenha da Actividade Nacional (1922-1924), according to the drawings of three illustrators. The Brazilians: Di Cavalcanti and Zina Aita and the Portuguese Jorge Barradas. In the América Brasileira magazine illustration was constricted between tradition and modernity. The majority of covers designed by Zina Aita and Di Cavalcanti follow the art nouveau tendency (with influences from Mucha, Beardsley, Whistler. Mackintosh, Burne-Jones), demonstrating a transition to the art deco. On the other hand, Jorge Barradas illustration show scenes of Portuguese customs and social types based on the naturalism/realism and on the romantic printed illustrations from the nineteenth century.