Emblem 70 No.2
- Artist: Rubem Valentim
- Date: 1970
- Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 1210 × 730 × 16 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is “Emblem 70 No.2” by Rubem Valentim. Created in 1970, the work is an acrylic on canvas that exemplifies the bold, geometric language that defined much of Valentim’s later output. You’ll notice the stark contrasts of bright pigment against a dark background, and the way the forms intersect—almost like a coded message or a symbolic badge. It’s a snapshot of the artist’s engagement with abstraction and the social context of Brazil at that time. The painting’s title hints at its role in a series—“Emblem 70”—and the number “No.2” suggests a conversation with its companion pieces. As you stand before it, think about how the bold shapes might echo the rhythms of São Paulo’s urban life.
See it in person
Emblem 70 No.2 is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
