Dressing up the contemporary scene: patterns and costumes in Brazil in the 18th and 19th centuries

• Grant number: 15/23550-1
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2016 - September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Theatre
• Principal researcher: Fausto Roberto Poço Viana
• Grantee: Fausto Roberto Poço Viana
• Home Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Isabel Cristina Italiano ; Luciano Vieira de Araújo

Abstract

The project handles the creation, pattern making and the building of Brazilian clothes and fills in an important gap in the studies of 18th and 19th centuries. It is based on the performing arts- notably the creation of theatrical costumes, from the realistic to the most experimental ones. Costumes are an important part of the national identity of a people. The project points out and analyzes iconographical and textual material on Brazilian costumes or clothes worn in Brazil through the study of several categories of clothes, that include the military, ecclesiastical, ethnographical and the costumes of the civilians. It almost aims to end studies previously developed in another project on underwear of the 19th century, generating patterns and a step by step reconstruction and a prototype; to complement studies on the clothes of the Brazilian Imperial Family still existing in collections of museums or private collectors. It also researches on political, social, economical aspects in the production of textile material in Brazil. Some of the topics to be approached include the historical and social backdrop of Brazil in the 18th century; life in Brazil in the 18th century; fabric, garments and fashion in Brazil in the 18th century; clothes of Minas Gerais in the period of the political movement called Inconfidência Mineira; trade and production of textiles; different fabrics used in the 18th century; colors of fabrics; seamstresses and clothes producers in the 18th century and categorization of clothes. The project still aims to develop a web site to extrovert the results and to connect different sources and researchers interested on the topic. The site might become a virtual museum, where the researcher can find all sort of information related to theatrical costumes and props all in one place. (AU)