Madalena Santos Reinbold

Maria Madalena Santos Reinbolt (September 14, 1912 – 1976) was a Brazilian self-taught painter and textile artist who created "paintings with paint" and "paintings with wool" or primitive artist.

Early life Reinbolt was born one of 16 children in a farm in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, on September 14, 1912. Her father was a farmer and her mother, Ana Maria de Souza Pereira, was a farmhand and a craft worker that mainly occupied herself by threading cotton, creating pottery dishes and pots, fabricating lace, and making butter. Madalena was never formally educated, and did not learn how to read, besides signing her own name.

Reinbolt was fired from her position as cook of Samambaia in late 1952 for spending too much time painting. According to Elizabeth Bishop, "it finally got to be a choice between art and peace, and tranquility seemed more important than a masterpiece every afternoon." After she got fired, Reinbolt continued to paint, and sold some of her works to Soares' friends.

In 1952, she married Luiz Augusto Reinbolt, the groundskeeper at Samambaia.

Works Reinbolt started expressing herself creatively as a child by painting old newspapers and making collages out of leaves and feathers. Soon after, she started to draw, paint, and embroider freehand.

As a maid in Salvador, she embroidered dish cloths with designs drawn by her employer. In São Paulo, her employer would refer to Reinbolt as an artist and would incentivize her to pursue a career in the arts.

Exhibits Reinbolt's work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale after her death. Her paintings and tapestries are currently featured in public and private collections, like the Museu Afro Brasil and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand - MASP, both in São Paulo, Brazil.