Representations of the Rural Realm

The production of clay dishes – pottery and figurines – has contributed over time to the livelihood of thousands of families whose members were prepared from childhood for the hard and exhausting work that would accompany them throughout their lives.

These tasks were fundamental to the establishment of a collective way of life and the creation of a social and cultural identity that has shaped the destiny of generations. By showcasing the exhibition “Representations of the rural realm in figurative art”, the Pottery Museum enters the world of art and craftsmanship, descending into the craters where clay is extracted and bringing to the surface works inspired by agricultural labor.

This symbiosis resulted in pottery productions, some more symbolic, others realistic, which interpret and portray the daily life of the rural population. It is these experiences of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Cape Verdean artisans, (re)interpreted and transformed into works of pottery craftsmanship, that are displayed in these “Representations of the rural realm in figurative art”. In the particular case of Barcelos, economic power came from two sources: farming and pottery, so it was very common for potters, in addition to working with clay, to work as day laborers in the fields (Isabel Fernandes, 2005).