I found these beautiful little tiles on a wall along a street in the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon. The truth of the matter is that I made a photograph of the wall, only barely aware of the tiles, and then took a closer look at them while working on the larger image in post. They appear to have been created by the same artist/craftsperson, judging by the signature, and I think they are relatively contemporary.
I’m no expert on fado — not by a long shot — but I’ll try to explain a bit for those who may wonder. It is described as a national musical form of Portugal, and it dates to the early 1800s. Fado songs have been described as “mournful, emotional songs (saudade—longing) focusing on fate, love, and life struggles.” It is my understanding that contemporary Portuguese people may have mixed feelings about the genre. Some love it as a cultural tradition, while others (from what I have been told) regard it as an unhappy reminder of past politics.
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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
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