his works often incorporated social themes and the feminine form into scenes of everyday brazilian life, and in the 1940s he illustrated books by celebrated brazilian writers such as vinícius de morais and jorge amado.

a contemporary of cavalcanti in the modernist movement was fellow carioca oswaldo goeldi (1895-1961), who was known for his woodwork - his first and perhaps most famous album was called '10 engravings in wood', although he also worked as an illustrator for magazines and books.

from 1952 until his death he was an esteemed professor at the national school of fine arts at the federal university of rio de janeiro, and his work still stands as a reference point for printmakers worldwide.