Chico da Silva (1910-1985) - Combat de coqs

Chico da Silva: A popular artist with a flamboyant imagination

Chico da Silva (circa 1910 – 1985) is a self-taught Brazilian painter from the north of the country, more precisely from the State of Acre, although he spent most of his life in Fortaleza, in the State of Ceará. Son of a Peruvian father and a Brazilian mother, Chico da Silva is a emblematic figure of naïve art in Brazil, known for his colorful works, filled with fantastic creatures and dreamlike scenes.

Without formal training, he began drawing directly on the walls of Fortaleza’s poor neighborhoods with charcoal. His talent was spotted in the 1940s by Swiss painter Jean-Pierre Chabloz, who encouraged him to use gouache on paper and introduced him to artistic circles. Soon, Chico da Silva’s work drew attention for its visual richness, its organic shapes, and its universe inspired by Amazonian myths, tropical fauna, and popular beliefs.

His paintings are inhabited by multicolored birds, stylized dragons, hybrid creatures, and lush landscapes. His style, though naïve in appearance, reveals great mastery of color and a keen sense of composition. He has often been compared to a visual shaman, whose works would be painted visions of a world between dream and reality.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he enjoyed significant success, exhibiting in Brazil and abroad. His work has been included in several museum collections, notably at the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP). Despite economic difficulties and the marginalization he faced as a popular artist, his work remains a major reference in Brazilian brut and naïve art.

Chico da Silva died in 1985, but his artistic legacy endures. He is today considered one of the great representatives of Latin American folk art, and his works continue to inspire artists and researchers interested in authentic expressions of Brazilian culture.

This artwork was acquired in Brazil. It has been slightly restored by a professional, as the black background had lost its luster over time. It bears the marks of its history. Its dimensions are 24 cm by 34 cm. It will be shipped with its original frame, by mail and with insurance.