When we look at the paintings by Mara Toledo, we see a common subject in her work, some are scenes from the forest, sugarcane harvest and also a village with daily life activities.
Let’s pause here to appreciate the context. Mara Toledo lost her parents and as a young girl was raised by her grandmother in a forested region of Brazil. Her grandmother was deeply knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and passed that knowledge on to Mara, teaching her the names of birds, butterflies, plants, and animals. Enchanted by these lessons, Mara once told her grandmother that she wanted to share these stories with others and through her art, she has fulfilled that promise.
Her forest scenes often reflect these early experiences with her grandmother. Later in life, Mara moved to Brazil’s interior, where she observed sugarcane harvests. Though the reality was likely grueling, she portrays these scenes as joyful and harmonious workers smiling under sunny skies, birds flying in perfect formation. This idealized, uplifting vision is characteristic of naïve art: it transforms hard realities into scenes of beauty and hope.
Another painting shows a small village where she once lived, depicting everyday activities with warmth and affection. Even if life there was difficult, she remembers and paints it through the lens of a happy childhood.
Mara gives us a personal and regional view of Brazil. Though her memories come from different parts of the country, they all highlight the dignity and joy of simple life, even when that life wasn’t easy.
