Portugal葡萄牙

Curatorial Note

The national atlas tradition of Portugal, as represented in this gallery, spans three volumes from 1941 to 1975, a period marked by both political change and a growing interest in systematic national documentation. The earliest atlas, published in Coimbra in 1941, emerged during the Estado Novo regime, when the state sought to project an image of unity and territorial coherence. This volume, issued in English, French, and Italian, suggests an outward-facing purpose—likely to present Portugal’s geography and resources to an international audience. The 1958 edition, titled simply 'Atlas de Portugal,' continued this tradition but with a more consolidated and updated cartographic approach, reflecting advances in surveying and statistical data. The final volume, the environmental atlas of 1975, marks a significant shift: produced in the year of the Carnation Revolution, it focuses on ecological and physical geography, indicating a move from a purely descriptive or promotional atlas to a scientific tool for planning and conservation. Together, these three works illustrate the evolution of Portuguese cartography from a state-centric, outward-looking project to a more analytical and environmentally conscious endeavor. Their legacy lies in establishing a baseline for national spatial knowledge, influencing later regional and thematic atlases, and providing a valuable historical record of Portugal’s changing landscape and political context.