Júlio Pomar (January 10, 1926 — May 22, 2018) was a Portuguese visual artist from Lisbon, whose career began in the mid-20th century, belonging to the third generation of Portuguese modernist painters. He quickly gained recognition for his innate talent and creativity and is considered one of the leading exponents of Neorealism in Portugal, particularly for his early works that focused on social critique during the Estado Novo period. Pomar’s constant desire to innovate, combined with a prolific artistic output, resulted in a diverse body of work that spans multiple media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and literature.
The painting “Decorated Calves” reflects a context of influences and motifs that Pomar adopted throughout his career. It was included in the exhibition “The Presence of the Divine in the Works of António Dacosta and Júlio Pomar,” presented by the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo in 2006 at the Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional de Ponta Delgada.
On a background of earthy and sanguine tones, two calves are depicted off-center, with simplified, distorted, and geometrized bodies. They are adorned with what appear to be paper bonnets, reminiscent of the work “A Festa” by António Dacosta, a friend of Pomar. Two lines on the right side guide the viewer’s gaze toward the calves, creating a sense of dynamism characteristic of the artist’s style.
Text: Inês Machado
