Francisco Pires Keil Amaral, lived two years in Madeira for professional reasons and from this stay emerged a book with illustrations inspired by a sort of encyclopedia about Madeira, a compendium on various topics related to the archipelago. A self-publish of 1969, from which were left over 160 books that went unnoticed by the marcelist censorship. Are humorous and irreverent illustrations about the lifestyle of the islanders and somewhat critical of the regime of the time that still remains current and that are exposed until February 28th in Door 33 us Maria Lira, wife of Pitum, told us.
The illustrations are all from Madeira Elucidário, but not only.
Maria Lira: Yes, he took the book, read the texts, chosed some and illustrated. However, in one of the rooms door 33 are the drawings he made to the newspapers called color pink at the time, there were only four who managed to escape a little of the censorship, it was the Commerce of Funchal, the Journal of Fundão, the Daily News of Lisbon and the News of Amadora. They were all very young and Pitum collaborated with them.
In 1969 were published.
ML: He showed the drawings to the mayor of the time, it was Fernando Couto who liked and supported its publication.
So why were all these books saved for so far?
ML: Well Fernando Couto resigned soon after the master plan of urbanization of Funchal was approved. The pressures of people and vested interests were many, they were all angry, because they could not do the haggling they wanted and he eventually gave up, despite the plan is well done so that the city could grow in harmony and when a Chamber president resigns the one that follow changes everything, it is the custom.
And the books were then stored.
ML: Many were still sold at the tourist office, but the others we took them all to Lisbon where they were kept at home.
What prompted the resurrection of this literary relic?
ML: Were our friends at Porta 33, Mauricio and Cecilia, that thru Lourdes Castro, made the reissue of the photonovel "love purifies" and "blue crosswalk" which were presented last year.
When you look at this book what you think?
ML: That are still very funny and current.
It is a very exquisite humor even to the censors of the time.
ML: Yes, they thought were funny and passed unnoticed, like a joke and did not care much.
Do you have a favorite?
ML: No, I like all, but the first illustration is aesthetically very beautiful (at the top of the page). However, are very sober designs, only in black and white. He never used color. Now he is making a series of drawings for a book that he is writing and also I like them all.
