Rosina Becker do Valle
Rosina Becker do Valle (Rio de Janeiro, 1914 – 2002)
Rosina Becker do Valle was one of the most important Brazilian naive painters of the 20th century, known for her sensitivity, the vibrant colors of her works, and her poetic portrayal of popular culture, forests, and Brazilian religiosity. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1914, Rosina spent much of her youth and adulthood dedicated to domestic chores, following the social standards imposed on women of her generation. However, art was always present as a latent inclination, which would manifest decisively in the mid-1950s.
In 1955, at the age of 41, Rosina began painting for leisure, using it as a form of personal expression. This late beginning did not hinder the development of a unique and recognized style, marked by spontaneity, intense color, and the symbolism of forms. Over time, she realized that her passion could become an artistic career, and to hone her technique, she enrolled in the school at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. There, she studied with Ivan Serpa, a pivotal artist in Brazilian modernism and known for encouraging creative freedom in his students. Under his guidance, Rosina developed technical skills, experimented with different materials, and cemented her naive style, maintaining the ingenuity and narrative power that characterize her work.
Rosina Becker do Valle's work centers on themes that reveal her deep connection to Brazilian culture. Folklore, popular festivals, religiosity, and forests are recurrent themes in her work, reflecting not only an observation of reality, but also a poetic and symbolic interpretation of the country's life and cultural memory. Her characters and landscapes are simplified, yet charged with emotion and meaning. Color plays a central role, conveying joy, spirituality, and the vitality of the popular imagination.
Between 1967 and 1969, Rosina participated in the Salão Nacional de Belas Artes, one of the most important showcases for artistic production in Brazil, and was present at the 5th and 7th editions of the São Paulo Biennial, an event that brings together national and international artists and provides great visibility. These participations solidified her position in the national art scene and opened doors for exhibitions abroad. Rosina has exhibited her works in several Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, as well as in international exhibitions in European and South American countries, becoming one of the most important representatives of Brazilian naive painting worldwide.
Her works are part of the permanent collections of renowned museums, such as the Musée d'Art Naïf de L'Île de France in France, the Museum of Modern Art in Hamburg in Germany, and the Museum of Modern Art in Buenos Aires in Argentina. Furthermore, her paintings have been reproduced in books and specialized publications in Brazil, Switzerland, England, and France, cementing her reputation as an international artist and contributing to the appreciation of naive painting as a legitimate and sophisticated artistic language.
Rosina Becker do Valle's style is characterized by a combination of formal simplicity and expressive complexity. Her figures are stylized, often two-dimensional, yet charged with emotion; the settings feature intense, contrasting colors, with attention to detail that evokes everyday life and cultural traditions. Her saints and religious scenes, for example, not only reproduce popular iconography but also convey a sense of devotion and collective faith, reflecting the central role of religiosity in the Brazilian imagination. Her forests and landscapes, meanwhile, demonstrate environmental and poetic sensitivity, capturing the beauty of nature with simple lines and luminous colors.
Rosina's artistic trajectory also reveals pedagogical and symbolic importance. Her career demonstrates that artistic talent does not depend on early initiation or conventional training; discipline, curiosity, and sensitivity are sufficient to produce a relevant and lasting work. Rosina became an inspiration to new artists, especially women, demonstrating that it is possible to reconcile personal life with creative expression and that art can be a means of cultural preservation and symbolic communication.
Critics and art historians highlight the poetic power of her works. Jacqueline Lamba states that "Rosina Becker do Valle transforms everyday life into visual poetry. Every detail, every chosen color, reveals a rare sensitivity, capable of conveying the essence of Brazilian folklore with lightness and depth." Thomas G. Smith observes that "her work highlights the dialogue between tradition and innovation, demonstrating that naive painting can be both simple and sophisticated. Rosina manages to transform popular scenes into universal images, where color and composition tell stories without the need for words." Maria Helena Bernardes adds: "Rosina represents the power of art as a personal and cultural expression. Through her works, she preserves the memory of Brazilian festivals, saints, and landscapes, demonstrating that formal ingenuity can be an instrument of profound sensitivity and aesthetic intelligence."
Besides critical recognition, Rosina Becker do Valle's work contributed to the visibility of naive painting in Brazil and abroad. Her work demonstrates that popular art can interact with erudite collections, international museums, and academic publications, bringing together diverse audiences and promoting an aesthetic appreciation that unites tradition and innovation.
Rosina passed away in 2002, leaving a remarkable artistic legacy. Her work remains present in museums, private collections, books, and publications, and remains a reference for artists and scholars of Brazilian naive art. She is remembered not only for her talent, but also for her example of perseverance, creativity, and dedication to national culture, cementing her place in the history of Brazilian and international art as an artist of profound sensitivity and poetic expression.