Maria Elena Vieira da Silva

Vieira da Silva (Maria Elena or Maria Helena) (Lisbon, June 13rd 1908 - Paris, March 6th 1992) painter French of Portuguese origin is a . Its poetic work, which proposes after 1945 new a space, combines with genius Réseau X and mosaic in compositions with the perspective reducing.

Biography

At the eleven years age, Vieira da Silva begins the training of the drawing and painting to the Academy of the fine arts of Lisbon. Before the twenty years age, she studies painting with Fernand Leger, Charles Dufresne, the Sculpture with Antoine Bourdelle, and the Gravure with Stanley Hayter, all the Masters in their discipline. She creates also textile works (Tapisserie S) and ceramics (stained glasses). Vieira da Silva settles in France in 1928, where it Marie in 1930 with the painter of Hungarian origin Arpad Szenes; it is naturalized in 1956. In 1930, it exposes its paintings to Paris. After a short stay in Lisbon and a period spent to the Brazil during the Second world war, she lived and worked in Paris the remainder of her life.

Vieira da Silva received the National Grand Prix of Arts of the French government in 1966 (it was the first woman with being thus distinguished). She was named knight of the Légion of honor in 1979.

She died in Paris on March 6th, 1992.

Vieira da Silva belongs to the painters brought together for the exposure " Lyrical flight, Paris 1945-1956" presented to the museum of Luxembourg (Senate), April-August 2006 ( the Town of Sindbâd , 1950; the Port , 1953, of the Museum of Cologne; Composition 1955 , 1955): {{ISBN|8876246797}}.

Work

At the end of the years 1950, Vieira da Silva had acquired an international repute for its dense and complex compositions, influenced by Paul Cézanne, with his split up forms, its space ambiguities and a restricted palette resulting from the Cubisme and Abstract art. She is regarded as one of the most important artists of the abstract art of post-war period although its painting is not purely abstract. Its works often resemble labyrinthian cities or even shelves of library, allegories of an eternal search of knowledge and absolute.

Vieira da Silva exposed her works in many places throughout the world and gained a price of painting to biennial of São Paulo in 1961.

In November 1994 is inaugurated the foundation Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva with Lisbon which exposes an important collection of the two artists.

Distinctions

First Price of tapestry of the University of Basle (1954)
Third Price with Biennial of Caracas (1955)
Title of Commander about Arts and of the Letters (1962)
National Grand Prix of Arts (1966)
Elected member of the national Academy of the Art schools, Portugal (1970)
Grã-Cruz da Ordem de San-Iago de Espada (1977)
Title of Knight of the Legion of Honor (1979)
Elected member of the Letter and Art, Academy of Science (1984)
Grand Prix Florence Gould and First Large Price-Antenna 1 - Lisbon (1986)
Medal of the town of Lisbon (1988)

Selective bibliography

Guy Weelen and Jacques Lassaigne, Vieira da Silva , Circle of Art, 1992,366 pages (2nd edition)),
Lydia Harambourg, Maria Elena Vieira da Silva , in the School of Paris 1945-1965, Dictionary of the painters , Neuchâtel, Ides and Calendes, 1993
collective Work (Virginia Duval, Fondation Dined Vierny-Museum Maillol, Musée Campredon…), Vieira da Silva , Meeting of the National museums, the Threshold, 1999,178 pages.

Illustrated works

Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, KB & KB the two eskimos (work for youth published in 1933 to 300 e.g. with the gallery Jeanne-To rough-hew with a text of Pierre Gueguen), new edition, Chandeigne, Paris, 2005,28 pages + two boards to be cut out.

External bonds

Biography of Vieira da Silva.
Site of the Jeanne Gallery To rough-hew (detailed biographies and bibliographies, exposures and catalogs).
Vieira da Silva on the site of the photographic Agency of the Meeting of the National museums (85 images).
Foundation " Arpad Szenes - Vieira da Silva".
Vieira da Silva with Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
Vieira da Silva with the Museum off Modern Art, New York.
81 works
short film of Michel Mitrani the workshop of Veira da Silva in 1968.

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