The verbal and the visual in Raul Pompeia’s The Atheneum: literature, art and educacion in the 19th century

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationships between the verbal and visual productions of Raul Pompeia, referring to the work O Ateneu, whose first edition dates back to 1888, emphasizing aspects of the context of Brazilian education in the late 19th century, such as the educational space, the school authority and presence of religion as a pedagogical component. In the tension between words and images, we aim to contribute to the understanding about the daily life of a Brazilian student at the period as represented by the author from his personal experiences. The reflections on the use of images in historical research were anchored in Aumont, Burke, Knauss and Manguel. To support the interfaces of the history of education with the literature, the dialogue with Bosi and Candido was fruitful. As a privileged source, we used the first and the second illustrated edition, dated 1905, as well as the images of the drawings, consulted at National Library of Brazil, newspaper articles and a commemorative medal. In the contrast between the text and images produced by the author, we observed aspects that highlight a critical perception regarding the educational universe of the author, which are treated, in the different languages, in a complementary form, opposed to or ratified, between fiction and experienced reality.

Keywords:
Raul Pompeia; The Atheneum; literature and education; history and image