A xilogravura popular

The selected collection of woodcuts created by popular artists linked to Cordel, presented in the exhibition held at the Museu Nacional da República in Brasília, DF (November 2018-February 2019) and reproduced in this catalogue, reveals the extraordinary richness of the popular imaginary of the outback Northeast Region of Brazil. There are also works by plastic artists who, although not part of the so-called folk artists, produced woodcuts similar to the languages used with Cordel. The pieces exhibited and reproduced in the catalogue are from private collections and from museums, signed by renowned engravers, poets and cordelistas such as Ariano Suassuna, Dila, Jota Borges, Samico, Mestre Noza, Palito, among others, and are organized by the different themes that represent the region's popular customs; romance, religious scenes (miracles and beliefs); fantastic animals (dragons, winged lions, mysterious peacocks); besides novels and adventures of the cangaço (bandits). Most of the engravings exhibited were published on small format chapbooks of 15 x 11 cm. Several factors led the xilogravuraœ (woodcut print) of Cordel to become independent of the brochure and gain its own prestige as a work of art. It is important to emphasize that this separation took place without abdicating the poetics that characterize the Cordel. The change occurred when the popular woodcut aroused the interest of intellectuals and modern artists and, also, when many publishers abandoned the woodcut and replaced the covers of their chapbooks with photographic clichés and with zinc engraving, which gave sharper and more attractive images.