Gilka Machado (1893–1980) was a Brazilian poet and political activist. She became known as one of the first women to write erotic poetry in Brazil; her work is usually classified as symbolist.[1] Machado was also one of the founders of the Partido Republicano Feminino (Women's Republican Party) in 1910,which advocated for the women's right to vote.[1]
Machado was born in 1893, in Rio de Janeiro. She started to write poetry as a child. At age 14 she participated of a literary contest held by the newspaper A Imprensa, winning the three main prizes with poems under her name and pseudonyms.[1] The critics were scandalized by her poems, calling her an "immoral matron".[1]
Her first book of poems, Cristais partidos, was published in 1915. The book was prefaced by Olavo Bilac.[2] The following years, she published the books: A revelação dos perfumes (1916), Estado de alma (1917), Poesias (1915-1917)- (1918) and Mulher Nua, in 1922.
In 1933 she won a contest by the magazine O Malho as the greatest Brazilian woman poet of the 20th century.[3]
Personal life
In 1910, Gilka Machado married the poet Rodolfo de Melo Machado (1885-1923), with whom she had two children, Hélios and Heros. Heros would become known as the dancer Eros Volúsia.[3]
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