The Yellow Man - Anita Malfatti
An in-depth analysis of Anita Malfatti's iconic work, The Yellow Man.
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Come with us to analyze the intriguing work 'The Yellow Man' by Anita Malfatti. Painted in 1915, this piece is a landmark of expressionism in Brazil, featuring a man with intense yellow skin, set against an enigmatic and somber backdrop.
The bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors used by Malfatti create a charged atmosphere of emotion and tension.
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This work was one of the most contentious pieces in the 1917 exhibition, known as the Week of Modern Art, for challenging the aesthetic norms of the time.
A work that defies conventions
This work is the second version, the first version, was made in the United States during the period when Anita was studying.
It was made in charcoal and pastel, with the same title and almost the same dimensions.
The painting is a portrait that, according to Anita, depicts a poor, excluded, and unknown man, an Italian immigrant who asked her to paint him, with a 'desperate expression'.
He presents an acute melancholy in his vacant and distant gaze.
Even though he is elegantly dressed in a suit and tie, his jacket looks worn and ill-fitting on his contorted body, transcending the boundaries of the canvas, a characteristic common to the painter's works.
His dark eyes are framed by black contours, with thick eyebrows in the shape of an acute accent.
The character was represented by Anita as somewhat awkward on the canvas, as if he were poorly seated in a chair that appears to be a chair.
In his limited space, he has both hands eliminated by the framing.
His body is inclined to the right, while his head reclines slightly to the left.
His arms show arched.
The posture of his body reveals his tension.
He appears oppressed.
The man's anxiety can be felt through his tense expression and his eyes that look above his right shoulder.
His face, turned to the right, shows only a small part of his right ear.
The man's yellow clothes also reveal his apprehension.
His jacket is misaligned, with the right lapel almost touching his face.
The tie makes a slight curve to the right, over his white shirt stained with dirt.
The work that generated controversy
The painting was bought by Mário de Andrade, as he had promised the artist.
Title: The Yellow Man
Year: 1915-1916
Dimensions: 61 X 51 cm
Technique: oil on canvas
Location: Collection of the Institute of Brazilian Studies of the University of São Paulo, Brazil
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