Amadeo(s)

This theatrical experience, by Art’Imagem, delves into the life and work of Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (1889-1918), one of the most emblematic Portuguese modernist painters.

The show-class, performed by three actors, unfolds in various characters and landscapes that populated Amadeo’s life and painting, from his childhood in Manhufe/Amarante to his premature death from Spanish flu in Espinho.

On stage, the audience witnesses an incursion into his iconic work – such as A Procissão (The Procession), O Parto da Viola (The Birth of the Viola) and A Menina dos Cravos (The Girl with Carnations) – which are intertwined with real and fictional episodes from his life and his relationships with other artists, including the ‘other Amadeos’: Modigliani and Mozart.

Using fragmented dramaturgy based on movement, body language and sound design, the show minimises the use of dialogue. It is a tribute to Amadeo’s work, which was ‘forgotten’ for over 50 years in Portugal, and a tribute to his wife, Lucie, who preserved it.