Darel Valença Lins

Darel Valença Lins (Palmares, Pernambuco, 1924 - Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 2017) was a renowned engraver, painter, designer, illustrator, and teacher. He graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Recife, now Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), between 1941 and 1942, and worked as a technical designer. In 1946, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he studied metal engraving with Henrique Oswald at the School of Arts and Crafts in 1948, and later came into contact with Oswaldo Goeldi.

He worked as an illustrator for various publications such as Manchete magazine and the Última Hora and Diário de Notícias newspapers. Between 1953 and 1966, he was in charge of publications for the Society of the Hundred Bibliophiles of Brazil. With a travel award won at the National Salon of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro in 1957, he traveled to Italy, where he stayed until 1960, illustrating significant works of Brazilian literature.

He taught metal engraving at the São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Art Museum (Masp) in 1951, lithography at the National School of Fine Arts (Enba) between 1955 and 1957, and at the Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation (Faap) School of Plastic Arts from 1961 to 1964. In 1968 and 1969, he created panels for the Palácio dos Arcos in Brasília. His work features recurring themes that include imaginary cities and the relationship between angels and machines, showcasing his ability to transition between realism and fantasy.

Sources:
Photo: DAREL . In: ENCICLOPÉDIA Itaú Cultural de Arte e Cultura Brasileiras. São Paulo: Itaú Cultural, 2021. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 17 de Mar. 2021. Verbete da Enciclopédia. ISBN: 978-85-7979-060-7