New Acquisitions: Historical Artists (2024)

Spanning the period from 1983 to the present day, Stories of the Collection summarises key moments in the formation of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Collection. Across distinct points and through the presentation of its most important acquisitions, we follow the desires, tastes, policies and circumstances of each specific moment of the collection’s development: The Decorative Collection (1983-89); The Art Collection (1990-97); Diversification (2000-04); Photographs (1991 and 2004); Precision (2004-08 and 2014); Prints (2007); Donations and Bequests (1967-2021); Resuming Acquisitions (2020-21); New Acquisitions: renowned artists (2022), (2023) and historical artists (2024); New Acquisitions: mid-career artists (2022), (2023) and currently active artists (2024); Caixa Contest for Young Artists (2022), (2023) and (2024).

The works acquired in 2024 continued the objective of consolidating the sub-collections of works by renowned artists already represented in the CGD Collection. This allowed us to develop our knowledge of the oeuvre constructed by these historical artists throughout their careers, namely: Álvaro Lapa (Évora, Portugal, 1939 - Oporto, Portugal, 2006); Gaëtan (Luanda, Angola, 1944 - Lisbon, Portugal, 2019); Michael Biberstein (Solothurn, Switzerland, 1948 - Alandroal, Portugal, 2013); Paula Rego (Lisbon, Portugal, 1935 - London, UK, 2022) and René Bértholo (Alhandra, Portugal, 1935 - Vila Nova de Cacela, Portugal, 2005).

Paula Rego’s painting Pioneiros (1982) will be joining two other works by this artist in the CGD Collection: The mosquito’s house (1984) and The Granddaughter (1998). Drawing inspiration from literary tales and her own biography, she reveals moments of human cruelty through the use of irony. 

The small dimension of Michael Biberstein’s Untitled (2006), purchased in 2024, contrasts with the impressiveness of Big Wide and Very large attractor (both from 1991), also in the CGD Collection, showing the exploratory dimension of his work.

Álvaro Lapa’s work Moldura (1981) brings diversity to the group of works by this artist in the CGD Collection, through the strangeness of a painting that presents an element normally considered peripheral as its main subject.
 
The painting Untitled (1987) by René Bértholo joins the sculpture already belonging to the CGD Collection Palmeiras (1974). The artist reveals the originality of his Pop language through his use of multiple disciplines, including illustration and drawing.