The salineiras (salt ladies) were women who worked in the salt flats, and their job was to transport the salt from the boats to the warehouses in wicker baskets carried upon their heads.
The salineira with her characteristic costume still exists in the collective imagination of Aveiro and in monuments such as ‘Marnoto and the Salineira’ by António Quintas. Together with Marnoto, usually as a couple, they represent Aveiro’s most iconic figures and are identified with one of the region’s traditional activities – salt production.
The artist Diogo Landô presents in this graphic work a duality between the hardship of the profession and embellishment provided by memory, representing it through the juxtaposition of various elements, using his characteristic digital art. The Salineira emerges as a strong figure, even if worn out by work; with the durability necessary for the performance of her tasks, but also in a sensitive light.