By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, 16 April 2026 – The Ambassador of Portugal in the Netherlands, H.E. Ms. Clara Nunes dos Santos, in partnership with the Fondation Arpad Zsenes Vieira da Silva, represented by its President, Dr. António Gomes de Pinho, proudly hosted an exhibition at the Chancellery of Portugal to mark the 52nd anniversary of the April Revolution, the carnation revolution. This exhibition showcased an impressive selection of graphic works by one of Portugal’s foremost painters of the 20th century, Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, titled “Fruits of Freedom.”
In her powerful opening remarks, Ambassador Clara Nunes dos Santos declared, For my generation, there is no question: if we had to select an artwork that embodies this extraordinary moment in our democracy, it would unequivocally be a painting by Vieira da Silva. The poster displayed here stands as the most significant representation of that remarkable day.
The Ambassador further emphasized, “When considering a literary piece that encapsulates the essence of the Revolution, we would undoubtedly turn to the words of another great Portuguese poet, Sophia de Mello Breyner, whose poem captures the Revolution with clarity: ‘This is the dawn that I awaited, the initial, whole, and clean day, where we emerge from the night and from the silence, And free we inhabit the substance of time.’
Just yesterday, while preparing for the exhibition, I discovered that it was Sophia, a member of Parliament, who asked Vieira da Silva to create a work celebrating the first anniversary of the democratic revolution.
This coincidence struck me profoundly, and it is essential that we take a moment, especially in these challenging times, to reflect on the critical importance of liberty and democracy.
I want to thank each of you for being here today, and I hope you will appreciate this remarkable showcase of a truly great Portuguese artist. When you visit Lisbon—note that I say “when,” not “if”—make sure to take the time to visit the outstanding foundation named after Vieira da Silva and her husband, Arpad Szenes, who hailed from Hungary.
It is my distinct honor to introduce Dr. António Gomes de Pinho, the President of the Arpad Szenes Vieira da Silva Foundation, who will share more about the foundation. Following his insight, Mrs. Sandra Brás Santos, the museum curator and a recognized expert, will provide further details about the remarkable artworks featured in this exhibition.
We have assembled a selection of 13 graphic works by one of the foremost Portuguese painters of the 20th century, Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, under the title “Fruits of Freedom.”
Enjoy the drinks and savory Portuguese snacks, including the exceptional bolinhos de bacalhau.
The exhibition remains open for visits on weekdays between 10.00 and 16.00 hours until 30th April 2026.
