Slim, walking leisurely, thoughtful, quiet, friendly and with a serene expression. His face almost always relaxed and softly spoken; Oscar Bento today is a man at peace with himself... and the world, despite disagreeing with many of the things that govern it. There was a time when the euphoria of youth fuelled concerns in as many places as possible after the longed for freedom. From those days, there remains the invaluable deposit of experience and certain idealism in harmony with his knowledge of life. Beyond any border, past the halfway point of a long career in painting, Oscar Bento is moving steadily towards his fruitful maturity. This is a happy time in essential matters, among other things because as he says, he has achieved some of his most cherished dreams, both personally and professionally.