Dame Paula Rego

About Dame Paula Rego

Paula Rego was born and brought up in Portugal and the stories she heard there as a child have been an important source of inspiration in her work.  Although her paintings and prints are frequently connected with narratives such as fairy tales and nursery rhymes, they are not illustrations - rather they appear to be embodiments of psychological situations. Paula Rego was Artist-in-Residence at the National Gallery in 1990/91.

Encampment [1989]
Etching and aquatint, artist's proof, 33 x 52 cm
Donated by the artist, 1992

This etching is part of her very successful Nursery Rhyme series of prints.

MY FAVOURITE WORK: Professor Ruth Lynden-Bell, Acting President

My favourite work is Encampment by Paula Rego.  It shows a group of people relaxing outside tents.  I imagine that they are a group of players or circus people.  When one looks further, one sees fantastic animals wandering among the people - on the left, two children are looking at a sleeping man, while on the right a plump woman reads to other children.

I like it because it invites one to use one's imagination.  What are the stories behind the picture?  Who are these mysterious people and where do the fantastic animals come from?

The following video recordings are reproduced with the kind permission of Anne Greenwood (New Hall, 1973):