Victor Brecheret is the most celebrated sculptor of the first half of the twentieth century in Brazil. In 1921, Brecheret was awarded a scholarship to study in Paris and his sculpture soon underwent significant changes. The dramatic twists of heroic figures in his previous production were replaced by synthetic forms and well-polished surfaces that reflect light, as seen in Vierge à l’enfant (Virgin and Child) (1923–1924). Although the religious theme and the marble belong to the repertoire of classical sculpture, the construction of the figures with cylinders and rounded forms, the rhythm established by their connections, and the subtle reliefs and incisions that define the shape of the bodies are all elements that attest to Brecheret’s commitment to modern art.
—Regina Barros
