163 - OSCAR NIEMEYER (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1907–2012).

OSCAR NIEMEYER (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1907–2012). Probably “Sketch of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Pampulha.” Ink on paper. Signed in ink in the lower right corner. Measurements: 21.5 x 30 cm; 40 x 50 cm (mat). The drawing appears to depict one of Oscar Niemeyer’s most iconic creations: the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, designed in the early 1940s. The succession of curved profiles of varying heights evokes the building’s characteristic parabolic reinforced concrete vaults, whose innovative design marked a milestone in modern Brazilian architecture. Through an extraordinary economy of means, Niemeyer synthesizes architectural forms into an interplay of undulating lines and horizontal strokes, reflecting his unique sculptural conception of architecture. The church is part of the Pampulha complex, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. A leading figure in 20th-century architecture, Niemeyer developed a language of great formal freedom, based on the expressive possibilities of the curve and reinforced concrete. Among his most notable works are the Cathedral and the National Congress in Brasília, as well as the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. He received the Pritzker Prize in 1988 and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1989. His work is represented in institutions such as MoMA in New York.