The belief that many unhappy people could become happy through carefully targeted efforts prompted British mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), who was also a historian, social commentator and political activist, to write the book ‘The Conquest of Happiness’.  This theme is dear to Paulo Cunha e Silva, Councillor for Culture at Porto Municipal Council, who, as well as promoting the current exhibition at the Galeria da Biblioteca Municipal do Porto, proposed its title: ‘Happiness in Júlio Pomar’.

The exhibition is the result of a challenge issued by the Councillor to the Millennium bcp Foundation and the Atelier-Museu (acting as curator) to bring the exhibition of the painter’s work held the previous year at the Galeria Millennium bcp in Lisbon to Porto, as part of a broader programme created for the city based on the theme of ‘Happiness’.

At the Galeria da Biblioteca Municipal do Porto, four sections were established, focusing on four motifs which form the painter’s visual world: (1) myths and allegorical figures; (2) the link between bodies and their eroticism; (3) the movement and constant presence of animals, in particular horses; (4) a very special set of works which refer directly and indirectly to the political positions and struggles adopted by the artist throughout his career: the unforgettable episode involving the Cinema Batalha.