J. Carlos

José Carlos de Brito e Cunha, known as J. Carlos, (Rio de Janeiro, July 18, 1884 — Rio de Janeiro, October 2, 1950) was a cartoonist, illustrator and graphic designer. J. Carlos also did sculpture, wrote vaudeville plays, wrote lyrics for samba, and was a major talent in Brazilian Art Deco graphic design.

Biography

His first work, a drawing of a newcomer, was published in 1902 in the magazine "Tagarela". He soon became a regular contributor to the magazine and within less than a year, designed a cover. He collaborated in design and illustration in all the major publications of Brazil from the 1920’s until the 1950’s, including "O Malho, O Tico Tico, Fon-Fon, Careta, A Cigarra, Vida Moderna, Eu Sei Tudo, Revista da Semana", and "O Cruzeiro."

His oeuvre is estimated to be more than 100,000 illustrations, with a varied range of fictionalized personages and Brazilian popular figures of the time. From a quintessential Brazilian archetype comic strip, the whimsical little black girl named "Lamparina", and other curious cariocas type, to middle class characters and famed politics and society people, nobody in the Brazilian conscious mind escaped J.Carlos elegant line of perception. In 1950, while discussing his friend’s, João de Barro, known as Braginha, upcoming record cover illustration, J. Carlos suffered a brain stroke and he died two days later. In the 10th of October’s issue of the magazine O Careta’s cover, J. Carlos last and posthumously contribution was much sought after.

Bibliography

· Zuenir Ventura / Cássio Loredano: O Rio de J.Carlos (J.Carlos’ Rio), Lacerda publisher, 1998. ISBN 8573840269

· Cássio Loredano: O Bonde e a Linha (The Streetcar and the Wire), Capivara publisher, 2003. ISBN 8589063100

· Herman Lima: História da Caricatura no Brasil: Vol. 3 (Brazilian caricature’s history: 3rd Volume),José Olympio Editora publisher, Rio de Janeiro, 1963.

· Julieta Sobral: J. Carlos, designer, in Rafael Cardoso publisher. O design brasileiro antes do design: aspectos da história gráfica 1860-1960 (Brazilian design before Design: graphic’s history facets), editora Cosac Naify, 2005. ISBN 8575034286