A new photography exhibition capturing everyday life in rural Portugal from the 1960s to the 1980s will open at Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes in Portimão on Saturday, April 11 at 4pm.
Titled “Portugal Profundo” (Deep Portugal), the exhibition brings together the work of photographers Marques Valentim and António da Silva Marreiros and presents a visual journey through different parts of the country, focusing on places and communities far away from major urban centres and coastal development.
Marques Valentim’s contribution includes a series of largely unpublished photographs taken across Portugal, from the northern interior to the Alentejo. His work documents rural communities, capturing ways of life, gestures and daily habits rooted in local traditions.
In contrast, António Marreiros’ photographs focus on the rural parish of Mexilhoeira Grande, in Portimão, where he lived and worked. His images reflect a community shaped both by agriculture and its proximity to the coast, showing local traditions alongside maritime influences.
Together, the two collections create a broader portrait of Portuguese life during a period of social and economic change, offering what organisers describe as an important historical and cultural record.
The exhibition extends beyond the interior gallery space. Six large-format images will also be displayed on the exterior of the building, illuminated at night, making the exhibition visible to passers-by.
Marques Valentim, born in 1949 in Cascais, began his career in photojournalism after the Carnation Revolution in 1974, working with several national publications. António Marreiros, who died in 2025, combined photography with his work as a barber, becoming the main photographer in his local community, documenting events such as weddings, baptisms and daily life.
The exhibition will be on display until May 30. Entry is free.
