Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Maria-Helena Vieira-Da-Silva
Biography
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva was a luminary in the world of abstract painting, whose intricate and poetic compositions have left an indelible mark on the art world. Born on June 13, 1908, in Lisbon, Portugal, Vieira da Silva was the only child of a diplomat father and a mother who was the daughter of the founder of Lisbon's most important newspaper, O Século. Her early life was marked by tragedy when her father passed away from tuberculosis when she was just three years old, leading her and her mother to move back to Lisbon to live with her maternal grandfather.
From a young age, Vieira da Silva was immersed in a world of intellectual and cultural stimulation. She was privately tutored at home, which isolated her from other children but allowed her to grow up surrounded by adults who fostered her love for the arts. She began her formal artistic training at the tender age of eleven, studying drawing and painting at the Academia de Belas-Artes in Lisbon. By the age of thirteen, she was already producing oil paintings, and her talent was unmistakable.
In 1928, Vieira da Silva left her hometown for Paris, a city that had long been a crucible for artistic innovation. She initially intended to study sculpture at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière but soon found her passion in painting, studying under influential artists such as Fernand Léger and engraver Stanley William Hayter. It was also in Paris that she met her future husband, the Hungarian painter Árpád Szenes, whom she married in 1930.
Vieira da Silva's early work was characterized by a decorative style of abstract patterning, but as she matured, her compositions became more complex, exploring spatial ambiguities and the fragmentation of forms. Her paintings often depicted labyrinthine cityscapes and architectural forms, inviting viewers to navigate the intricate layers and perspectives within her work. She was deeply inspired by the works of Paul Cézanne and Piet Mondrian, and her unique visual language was a blend of geometric abstraction and poetic imagination.
The outbreak of World War II forced Vieira da Silva and Szenes to flee Paris. They first moved back to Lisbon and then to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Vieira da Silva continued to paint and exhibit her work. Her time in Brazil was productive, and she became friends with important Brazilian modernist poets and received federal commissions.
After the war, Vieira da Silva returned to Paris, where she would live and work for the rest of her life. The post-war period saw her work reflect the grim realities of Europe, with titles such as ‘La gare inondée’ and ‘Ruines’ evoking the destruction wrought by the conflict. Despite these somber themes, her work also carried a sense of hope and resilience.
Vieira da Silva's contributions to art were widely recognized during her lifetime. She became a French citizen in 1956 and was the first woman to receive the French government's Grand Prix National des Arts in 1966. She was also named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1979. Her work was included in major retrospectives and is part of numerous important collections around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Throughout her career, Vieira da Silva continued to push the boundaries of abstraction. She was not only a painter but also worked in tapestry, stained glass, and other mediums. Her innovative approach to art, combined with her meticulous technique, has inspired generations of artists.
Vieira da Silva passed away on March 6, 1992, in Paris, but her legacy endures. Her work continues to be celebrated for its distinctive style and its profound exploration of space, perspective, and the abstract potential of the painted surface. She remains one of Portugal's most celebrated artists and a significant figure in the European abstract expressionism movement known as Art Informel. Her life and work stand as a testament to her relentless pursuit of artistic expression and her profound impact on the world of modern art.
Maria-Helena Vieira-Da-Silva
Quotes and Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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