Period: 20th century Dimensions: 42 x 28 cm Description:

A composition of six relief tiles by Luís Ferreira da Silva (1928–2016), a Portuguese artist who played a significant role in the renewal of Portuguese artistic ceramics during the second half of the 20th century. Each tile features a geometric pattern of diagonals converging at a central point, forming four triangular surfaces in relief. The composition is characterized by the application of glazes in shades of orange, red, and ochre, with chromatic variations resulting from the interaction between the pigments, the surface texture, and the firing processes.

Associated with artist-made ceramics and the abstract movements in postwar Portuguese art, Ferreira da Silva developed a visual language based on experimentation with materials, relief, and the effects of glazes. His work helped transcend the traditionally decorative function of the azulejo, exploring it as a medium for autonomous artistic expression. In this composition, the repetition of the same geometric module establishes a visual rhythm that brings the ceramic tile closer to sculpture and geometric abstraction, highlighting the importance of texture, color, and three-dimensionality in the artist’s work.