A Construção da Imagem Representativa da Avenida Central: Rio de Janeiro 1902-1906

Abstract

The early twentieth century Rio de Janeiro, witnessed a process that dramatically changed its image as a city. By that time, the city exported an image of a sick town but after the Great refurbishment of 1902 this image was changed into an image of a wonderful city. That because the city merged architectural beauty with the natural beauty. The study of this event reveals that despite conjectural problems wich needed solutions of practical issues such as fighting epidemics and sanitation. The city refurbishment was marked by aesthetic embellishment. This was widely criticized by the Historiography of the 1980s This work aims to make a new reading of the reform intentions, from the understanding of what it meant beautify the city for the men of the early twenty century. The Central Avenue was the high point of the project of the new city. It was conceived by the reformers of Rio de Janeiro, as the epicenter of a will to persuade people to buy the Republican Project, and establish there a special area of Civilization. More than a wide road, the Governors intend to allocate an image of progress to the Avenue, and so, transfer that image to Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. This was a strategic policy of state.