“Brazil and Vargas”: Reflections on the Report by Rockwell Kent after his trip to Rio de Janeiro in 1937

Abstract

This article aims at translating the “Brazil and Vargas” report, written by Rockwell Kent in 1938 after his nine-day trip as political observer to Rio de Janeiro in November, 1937. It also aims at reflecting upon what was going on in Brazil during the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas, as well as upon how Kent creates his report, that is, how the latter develops his thoughts in relation to that moment’s political context. For a more precise contextualization, this article also discusses Rockwell Kent and Cândido Portinari’s friendship, regarding the relationships underlying Portinari’s artistic path.