The exhibition «Mulheres Saramaguianas», which is part of the official program of the Centenary of Joseph; Saramago, was presented for the first time on March 17th at the Haus des Buches (Leipzig Book House), as part of the Leipzig Book Fair, Germany – whose 2022 edition has Portugal as a guest country.

«Saramaguiana Women» presents a special edition of previously unpublished screen prints and engravings by Portuguese artists, accompanied by texts, also unpublished, by Portuguese-speaking writers, with a limited edition. The project is the result of a partnership between Fundação José Saramago with the Portuguese Screen Printing Center.

The project

Blimunda, Gracinda Mau-Tempo, Joana Carda, Maria Sara, Morteand a Doctor's Wife are the point starting point for carrying out the project. The so-called survival of the character is valued in them, going beyond the pages of fiction in which they appeared and favoring new perspectives on these women, of whom Saramago said were «a whole human being».

Six Portuguese artists from various generations and artistic territories responded to this challenge: Ana Romãozinho, Graça Morais, Joana Villaverde, José de Guimarães, Manuel João VieiraandMiguel Januáriosign original works, each of them having one of the aforementioned characters as their theme.

In equal numbers, Portuguese-language writers reinterpret  the six figures:Adriana Lisboa, Ana Luísa Amaral, Ana Margarida de Carvalho, Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida, Dulce Maria CardosoandLídia Jorge delve deeper, with their texts, the artistic reinvention of the characters' faces and bodies.

100 sets of “Mulheres Saramaguianas” will be published, plus the corresponding accompanying texts. 

Project coordination: Carlos Reis
Curatorship: Ana Saramago Matos

Publisher: Portuguese Screen Printing Center