Art Deco passion in the paintings of Juarez Machado

For many of us, Brazil is first and foremost a carnival. Moreover, some people think that life in this country is an endless holiday, with passionate dancing and heady cocktails. Brazilian artist Juarez Machado helps perpetuate this stereotype. The heroes of his paintings are drunk, relaxed and dancing tango.

Juarez Machado works in an art deco style that is rare in our time. It was popular in the first half of the 20th century, so it is not surprising that the heroes of the Brazilian’s paintings look old-fashioned. Machado's world is wine, billiards, cards and, of course, women.

The men in the artist’s canvases are brutal, while the women look approachable and even vulgar. But you can’t erase the words from the song, because Machado devotes his work to the nightlife of Brazilian metropolises. The artist’s canvases are in demand among collectors all over the world, who are willing to pay large sums for them.

Juarez Machado was born on March 16, 1941 in the city of Jonville, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In 1954, his family moved to the city of Curitiba. There the teenager entered the School of Music and Fine Arts of the State of Paraná. Recognition came quickly to Machado. Already in 1961, the young man took 2nd place at the Salon of Young Artists in Curitiba. A year later he received the first prize in this competition.

In 1964, Juarez Machado held his first solo exhibition in Curitiba. In the same year he was awarded the Gold Medal of the 15th Spring Salon. All these victories, large and small, brought fame and money to the artist. He received orders and the young master decided to move to Rio de Janeiro.

There was a lot of work in the big city. Machado painted pictures, drew caricatures, and was engaged in design and sculpture. But in the early 1970s, he stopped wasting his talent and focused on painting. By this time, the artist already had his own, well-recognized style.

In the late 70s, Juarez Machado became world famous. This happened after his personal exhibitions took place in New York, London and Paris. The artist moved to Paris in 1988 and founded a studio there. Now he lives and works in France, but does not forget his homeland. Machado often visits Rio de Janeiro, where he holds painting exhibitions and workshops for aspiring painters.

But the artist Marcos Beccari is the complete opposite of his fellow countryman. He paints tender and romantic portraits of women in watercolors.