PAINTING BY NELSON FERREIRA FOR THE MOST FAMOUS CAFE IN PORTUGAL: FERNANDO PESSOA

Nelson Ferreira's painting ‘A Trace and a Semblance of Myself’ has been awarded a landmark award, given only twice in 100 years (1925 and 1971). The canvas was chosen to be part of the permanent collection of the A Brasileira café in Lisbon (Chiado). This is an iconic space, steeped in history, where illustrious Portuguese names such as Fernando Pessoa, Almada Negreiros, Eduardo Viana, Eduardo Nery, and João Vieira have left their mark, contributing to the rich artistic tapestry of this place.

This artwork, inspired by Fernando Pessoa, is an attempt to capture the multifaceted essence of this poet, who continues to fascinate and challenge us. Pessoa, often described as an ocean of thoughts and emotions, is depicted here within a surreal landscape that is simultaneously himself and the vastness he symbolizes.

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THE SURREAL LANDSCAPE: PESSOA IN THE OCEAN OF INTERIORITY In the composition, Fernando Pessoa is both figure and water. The surface of a lake, rising vertically, reflects and fragments his image infinitely. It is a reflection of a reflection—a visual echo that dialogues with the psychological and identity fragmentation so inherent to his work.

In the air surrounding his silhouette floats an emblematic quotation from The Book of Disquiet:

"I have never been anything but a trace and a semblance of myself. My past is everything I failed to be."

This fragment is not merely a literary element; it permeates the painting’s atmosphere as though the words had taken on physical form.

LINGUISTIC MULTIPLICITY: A BRIDGE TO THE WORLD To further enrich the experience for viewers, this quotation was translated into several languages. A Brasileira, frequented by visitors from all over the world, seemed like the perfect stage to celebrate this plurality. Each translation adds a new layer of fragmentation, inviting audiences, regardless of their language, to immerse themselves in Pessoa's universe and reflect on their own condition.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BELONGING TO THIS SPACEA Brasileira is much more than a café; it is a symbol of Lisbon's culture, a place where artists, poets, and thinkers of various generations have found inspiration. A Brasileira is Portugal's most famous café, one of the three oldest in Lisbon, and known for popularising coffee consumption in the country, particularly the "bica".

Seeing the painting in this context, alongside artworks by famous artists, is a milestone in the career of any painter.

The artwork will be on display at A Brasileira café from January to September 2025.

Here are some photos from the ceremony, courtesy of A Brasileira do Chiado and the O Valor do Tempo Group. You can see the moment when the painting ‘A Trace and a Semblance of Myself’, initially covered, is unveiled before a packed audience.