Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro was born in Lisbon, into a large family of distinguished artists. He made his theater debut when he was fourteen years old, yet decided to become a graphic artist and published his first album, 'O Calcanhar d'Achilles', in 1870. It was a collection of caricatures of literary celebrities. In 1884, he started a ceramic factory at Caldas da Rainha, which is still in business today.
A Parodia (26/3/1902)
He founded the bi-monthly magazine O Binoculo, and shortly after started A Berlinda. Pinheiro also published his work in magazines like El Mundo Comico, A Lanterna Magica, O Antonio Maria and El Bazar. Influenced by Wilhelm Busch, he specialized in sequential narratives, and published several more albums. Among others, he came with a satire on the Brazilian emperor's trip to Europe, called 'Apontamentos de Raphael Bordallo Pinhoro sobre à Picaresca Viagem do Imperdor Brasil pela Europa' (1872). His last one, 'A Parodia', appeared in 1900.
Another Pinheiro biography
(in Portuguese)