Photo-Portrait, Photo-Painting: Identities of Cariri

Abstract

The present visual essay, shot on 120mm film, presents portraits of masters of popular culture in Cariri. Among those recorded are Chico Alagoano (of fotografia lambe-lambe, street photography); Mestre Nena, bacamarteiro (festive blunderbuss-shooter); Mestre Antônio Matheus of the Reisado dos Irmãos; and Dona Maria, a former midwife from Horto. The same photographs were recreated in the form of photo-paintings, produced using traditional techniques with prints on silver salt photographic paper, pastel painting, and liquid pigments, by two photo-painters, the last in Ceará: Mestre Júlio and Mestre Mirialdo. In this process of understanding portrait work in the interior of Ceará, with the presence of two different photo-painters, it is possible to establish the plurality of the craft in the region. The recording of this process aims not only to demonstrate the technique but also to deconstruct an imaginary of “doll-makers”, an imaginary that has spread around Northeastern photo-painting. Mestre Júlio and Mestre Mirialdo, when painting the same photographs of masters of popular culture, develop different techniques, allowing, in a rare way nowadays, a comparative analysis of this type of work. One can note the refinement of their work in the complex form of production that is photo-painting, where the entire portrait is produced from black-and-white prints of the client’s face. This essay aims to capture the viewer’s attention, thereby fostering a greater interest in the subject.