Portrait of Manuel Nardi, inspiring tale "Manuelzão and Miguilim" written by Guimarães Rosa, Andrequicé, MG. Brazil

Born in Englefield, Surrey, Maureen Bisilliat has constructed a solid photographic investigation of the Brazilian soul since the 1950s, when she moved to the country, using her foreigner’s eye impregnated with a profound respect for her subjects – sertanejos and Indians above all – and a search for conceptual support in anthropology and great works of Brazilian literature. Her complete works have been part of the Instituto Moreira Salles’ collection since December 1983, a total of 16,251 images that includes photographs, black-and-white negatives, and color chromes.