During his time in Brazil, from 1936 to 1946, Ernesto de Fiori lived in downtown São Paulo, an area he portrayed in many of his paintings. São Paulo, cena de rua [Street Scene in São Paulo] (1942) presents a record of public life in the city, which at the time already bustled with intense social activity. The scene — which appears to have taken place during a late afternoon — depicts four subjects: two elegantly dressed women, their backs to the viewer, walking down the street; on the opposite sidewalk, two men appear, painted as barely visible figures. The background features the eclectic architecture of several mansions, though today it would be impossible to identify exactly where the scene took place, as the city transformed rapidly in the immediate aftermath of its depiction. In his paintings, based on observational sketching, De Fiori plays with unpredictability by employing paint heavy brushes. Some stretches of the canvas remain unpainted, flirting with an unfinished touch. His expressionist and energetic strokes also incorporate violets, blues and greens that provide fluidity and lightness. The painting’s dramatic composition is also clear: symmetrical framing, juxtaposed planes of action and backdrop as scenery (buildings and trees). Passersby, the painting’s main subjects, are represented with strokes that provide motion to the composition while echoing its thematic and formal aspects.

— Guilherme Giufrida, assistant curator, MASP, 2018