The portrait of the sphinx

Abstract

This study aims to deepen the analysis of the ecphrastic interactions present in the works of Mário de Sá-Carneiro, highlighting his com­plex relationships with various art forms such as painting, music, dance, sculpture, and architecture. By exploring these connections, the relent­less pursuit of the author for the realization of the Total Work of Art is revealed, a fundamental concept within the context of Portuguese mod­ernism. Through meticulous investigation, it is evidenced how Sá-Car­neiro transcends the traditional boundaries of artistic expression, amal­gamating diverse influences and fostering a profound dialogue between different languages. In this sense, his works emerge as true laboratories of the creative effervescence of the period, reflecting not only the individ­ual concerns of the author but also the pulsating cultural and aesthetic transformations of an era marked by the relentless pursuit of the syn­thesis of the arts. Thus, by recognizing the richness and depth of these ecphrastic connections, we are led to a broader and more enriching ap­preciation of Mário de Sá-Carneiro’s contribution to the configuration of literary modernity in Portugal.