"A conquista do Amazonas": Antônio Parreiras e a sua representação na Amazônia

Abstract

The painting “A Conquista do Amazonas”, by Antônio Parreiras, is rich in detail and capable of referring the viewer to the colonial period, however, it is a production from the beginning of the 20th century and it is possible to see the construction of an identity regional by which marks the birth of the State of Pará beyond the borders with the other states of the federation. Antônio Parreiras was responsible for painting his masterpiece that would remain in Pará as part of the republican project of building national symbols. With this order, Antônio Parreiras organized his first historical screen. In this perspective, the main objective is to identify the various aspects present in the screen. Noting that the screen narrates one of the great achievements of the colonial period, but its production is part of a project to build a regional identity. So much so that the screen is divided into three key moments. The first relates to the act of conquest, in which the reading of the pose term is made. In the center, the five members of the expedition led by Pedro Teixeira hear in a solemn manner, and there is no manifestation of disrespect. The second moment is related to the idea of civilization in which the European leads the indigenous element towards living in society and progress. And lastly, the almost absolute predominance of European technologies, since the sails of the Portuguese vessels occupy a prominent place, if compared to those produced by the Amazonian natives.