Mera paisagem? O projeto artístico de Athena

This article analyzes the artistic component of the magazine Athena, directed by the painter Rui Vaz (1891-1955). Although the literary direction of Fernando Pessoa and the significance of the content he wrote for Athena established the publication's relevance in the field of literary studies, its visual dimension was considered inconsistent and deemed irrelevant, remaining invisible in the fields of art history and visual culture. This study recovers that artistic component, analyzing it as an autonomous and significant part of Athena's project. To this end, it examines Rui Vaz’s direction and contributions, investigating not only how the painter came to lead the magazine, but also his editorial choices and the collaborators he involved. In this context, the analysis of the texts by the critic Mário Vaz (1889-1977) is deepened, particularly regarding his defense of modernism. Finally, it explores the role of art history and the prominence of images in consolidating Athena's pedagogical project.