By Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo
The model in the painting Portrait of Desembargador Gabriel Gonçalves Gomide was the father of painter Antônio Gomide and Regina Gomide Graz, the portraitist’s first wife. The figure entirely takes up the left part of the painting, in such a way that a virtual diagonal line could be drawn from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the canvas. The figure is outlined in black, heralding back on the works of another Swiss artist, Ferdinand Hodler, whom John Graz rather admired. The sitter is shown on an upholstered armchair finished with brown wood, that stands out against the bluish light beige wall painted on the background with thick brush strokes. His right hand holding a cigarette. His left hand rests on his right leg, crossed over the left. His serene countenance is marked by deep wrinkles, a generous gray moustache, and prominent baldness. On the right side of the painting, the only element to interfere in the conciseness of the portrait is a curtain with flower motifs, hanging vertically.

— Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo, 1998

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