Mira Schendel's Late Monochromatics and Rice Paper Drawings Reveal Formal Concerns

Mira Schendel's last collection, the Monocromáticos (1986/1987), showcased wooden surfaces coated with plaster and finished in either white or black tempera, producing unique optical lines. The nearly seventy-year-old artist, with assistance from Fernando Bento, drew inspiration from airplane trails to delve into her examination of lines and surfaces. Her extensive portfolio of over two thousand rice paper drawings from the mid-1960s highlighted the material's weave, emphasizing its significance. After her passing in 1989, these personal works were sold for US$100. Schendel's artistic vision resonates with Paul Klee, as she transformed writing into near-objects in her Objetos Gráficos. The Sarrafos and Monocromáticos stand out as her most substantial pieces, reminiscent of her 1960s drawings. In 1987, she began incorporating brick dust and glue, with support from gallerist Paulo Figueiredo.