Letter

CO-1562 H. Neto, M. [Carta] 1943 jul. 9, Rio de Janeiro, RJ [para] Candido Portinari, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. 2 p. [manuscrito] Caro Sr. Portinari Ao sair da Escola de Belas Artes, após ter percorrido as salas onde se acham expostos seus trabalhos, veio-me à mente o trecho de Oscar Wilde, que transcrevo abaixo: A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is. It has nothing to do with the fact that other people want what they want. Indeed, the moment that an artist takes notice of what other people want, and tries to supply the demand, he ceases to be an artist, and becomes a dull or an amusing craftsman, an honest or a dishonest tradesman! He has no further claim to be considered as an artist. Art is the most intense mode of Individualism that the world has known. Crime, which, under certain conditions, may seem to have created Individualism, must take [ilegível] of other people and interfere with them. It belongs to the sphere of action. But alone, without any reference to his neighbors, without any interference the artist can fashion a beautiful thing, and if he does not do it solely for his own pleasure, he is not an artist at all. Creia0me, Sr. Portinari, uma admiradora do seu talento (porque o Sr. o tem, sem dúvida alguma), apesar de não tecer loas a informes monstrengos próprios para satisfazer o gosto exótico dos snobs. M.H. Neto 2