Market Lady by Harry Elsas (Germany/Brazil, 1925-1994), mixed media on fabric, signed in pencil, circa mid 20th century, loose - 7" x 9 1/2"
 
Heinz Hugo Erich Elsas, known as Harry Elsas, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1925 and passed away in Taubaté, Brazil, in 1994. A muralist, engraver and painter, Elsas began his artistic career as a self-taught artist. Living in Brazil since 1936, his work was deeply influenced by the regional culture of the Brazilian Northeast. In 1945, under the guidance of renowned artist Lasar Segall, Elsas held his first individual exhibition at the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in Rio de Janeiro. Starting in 1970, he settled in São Paulo, where he performed notable works such as murals for Banco Safra in 1971 and Banco Cidade de São Paulo in 1976. These murals are distinguished by their rich artistic expression and cultural integration, reflecting both the influence of modernism and traditional Brazilian elements.