The model and the portrait: Jaime Cortesão and the articulation of the ‘Historical Formation of Brazil’ with the ‘History of Brazilian Cartography’

Abstract

The studies of the Jaime Cortesão’s contribution to Brazilian historiography have always given little importance to their participation in State projects and in a historiography linked to the State. In this article, we seek to discern his contribution to the ‘Historical Formation of Brazil’ as a position in the Portuguese and Brazilian historiographical ‘metagame’ and in relation to national interests. We understand that this ‘meta strategy' was successful because the inputs of their work , especially cartography, were already part of the metalogic of Brazilian historiography and for having directed his interests gradually to a ‘circuit of expression’, which bestowed prestige to him and his work.