In this artwork, how is the Description discussed?
The Landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in Porto Seguro in 1500 depicts a large group of indigenous people on a beach of Porto Seguro, Bahia, with others arriving through the dense woods that surrounds the sand, to greet Pedro Álvares Cabral. The indigenous people are shown in running positions, shouting, and wielding the spears; they are depicted as euphoric with the arrival of Cabral. At sea, it is possible to observe a small vessel that approaches the coast with indigenous Brazilians who had already spent the night in Cabral's caravel. In the central region of the screen are Cabral and an assistant, standing on the beach, coming into contact with an indigenous leader. The painting depicts the indigenous people making an uproar, while the Portuguese are depicted without surprise at the new territory.
The painting is divided between two very well-defined areas. In the first, there is the plane of the ocean, with boats and their Portuguese crew, who carry the Cross of Malta in standard and in the sails of the caravels. The other is the land plane, the area of indigenous Brazilians, who are represented as curious, cornered, and confused. They are surrounded with dense vegetation which assimilates them with the universe of nature. To portray the encounter between the Christian civilization of the Portuguese and the pagan nature of the indigenous people, Oscar Pereira da Silva used the application of lights and white and blue zones for the Portuguese, and heavier and darker colors to represent with the indigenous population.
The painting was included in the exhibition "Imagens Recriam a História" in 2007, which examined representation and interpretation in historical paintings in Brazil.
Bahia Cross of Malta Porto Seguro Pedro Álvares Cabral caravel indigenous Brazilian Oscar Pereira da Silva