Public display of the heads of Lampião and his gang, who were leaders in the Brazilian outlaw group known as the cangaceiros. The heads of Lampião and Maria Bonita, his wife, are shown at the base of a staircase, surrounded by the heads of other members of the gang. The display is accompanied by various possessions of the group.

Lampião, whose real name was Virgulino Ferreira da Silva, was a Brazilian outlaw who became a leader of the cangaceiros, a group of bandits who operated in the sertão region of the Northeast of Brazil in the early 20th century. The cangaceiros were known for their mobility and ability to navigate the harsh, semi-arid landscape of the sertão, which made it difficult for law enforcement to track them. They were also known for their violence and for targeting wealthy landowners and government officials.

Lampião became a symbol of resistance against the wealthy elites and the central government, and he and his gang gained a level of popular support among the poor and marginalized people of the sertão. However, they were also feared and reviled by many, and their actions often caused widespread destruction and suffering.

Lampião and the cangaceiros were pursued by law enforcement for around 20 years, and the Brazilian government offered large rewards for their capture. Lampião was eventually killed in a police ambush in 1938, and his head was displayed publicly as a warning to other outlaws. Despite this, Lampião and the cangaceiros have become legendary figures in Brazilian popular culture, and they continue to be remembered and celebrated in songs, literature, and film.