FERNANDO AMORSOLO

Philippines' first National Artist in Painting (1972), the so-called "Grand Old Man
of Philippine Art", Amorsolo earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School
in 1909 and entered the University of the Philippines' (UP) School of Fine Arts.
He graduated with honors from the UP in 1914 and got study grant in Madrid,
Spain. He was also able to visit New York, where he encountered postwar
impressionism and cubism, which would be major influences on his work. The
following are just a few of Amorsolo's work.
ARTWORKS

The Fruit Pickers Under the Mango Tree

The artwork is entitled Fruit Pickers Under the Mango Tree. It was painted by Fernando Amorsolo a
famous Filipino artist. It was made by using oil on 25 1/4 x 37 1/2 inches canvas and was finished at the
year 1937.

As start, the painting consists of Filipino fruit harvesters. There are six of them - two at the left back side
and four at right front. There is also a big mango tree in front and different sizes of baskets for the
mangoes. One person, who has her back turned seems to be talking to the girl sitting. Others were
totally engrossed to their work. The place is very bright as a green environment.

The artwork has a smooth texture, bright colors were often used than the dark ones. There were a lot of
curved lines and very few straight lines. Also, the intensity of the painting is low due to light colors. It is
not balanced: the right side has more weight than the left. Here, no spaces can be seen, everything has
been filled and for that, there was no dull moment.

Fernando Amorsolo created this painting during the year 1937. This year was the rise of woman rights.
Many events for the Filipinas occurred during that time. One, the Philippines held a plebiscite for Filipino
women on whether they should be extended the right to suffrage; over 90% voted in the affirmative.
Also, for the first ever, Filipino women were given the right to vote during elections.

He is also known for his illuminated landscapes which portrayed traditional Filipino customs,
culture, fiestas and occupation. With this, he often paint Filipinas and shows their true beauty. He
described Filipino women as having a rounded face, lively eyes and not the dreamy sleepy one; and
having not a white nor dark-brown color, but a clear and fresh skin---an ideal Filipina beauty!
Two of the most distinctive features of his painting is the style of coloring and way of shading. The
artwork also showed different principles of design. First, emphasis was especially given on one girl sitting
under the tree. This was clearly shown because of the light that hits that particular object; The picture is
not balanced: the right side has more weight than the left; Variety was not really given value in this
artwork - almost all parts have the same stroke and manner. Movement among the characters can be
seen – especially between the workers at the back; Different shades of light was obvious, and for that
rhythm was visible; Lastly, it is harmonious and unified even though it is unbalanced. This gave the
painting a more dramatic yet realistic effect.

The artist, Amorsolo, created this artwork to show of the true value of Filipinos. They are hard-
working yet happy of what they are doing. It was to also make the world aware about the true Filipina
beauty. Overall, this painting was intended to show Filipino’s characteristic glow. This can be proven by
looking at the characters in the painting. Not only that, taking a look back at the events proves it’s true
meaning.

It is a very gorgeous artwork. For the criteria, we can say it’s the Technique, Meaning, Impact, and
Theme. In my own judgement, I give it 9 for the technique; 10 for the Meaning; 8 for the Impact and 10
for the Theme.

For me, it is an artwork full of emotions for the beloved country and it’s citizens. I love how Amorsolo
made it eye-catching. It is simple but a very gorgeous display of the characters. The way the mango tree
was painted makes it significant for the whole work. The title is really fitting because It’s meaning can be
easily interpreted by viewers and that is a good point. It means that Amorsolo reached out to touch
hearts with painting.
PLANTING RICE

he painter Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a dominant figure in the visual arts of the Philippines

during the decades before the Second World War and into the post-war period. His oeuvre is characterized

by scenes of the Filipino countryside, harmoniously composed and richly coloured, saturated with bright

sunlight and populated by beautiful, happy people: it is an art of beauty, contentment, peace and plenty –

which perhaps explains its enduring popularity in the Philippines to this day.

Amorsolo was committed to two fundamental ideas in his art: first, a classical notion of idealism, in which

artistic truth was found through harmony, balance and beauty, and second a conservative concept of

Filipino national character as rooted in rural communities and the cycles of village life. The two come

together in pastoral scenes such as ‘Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano’, painted in 1949. Here, happy

Filipino villagers in their bright clothes and straw hats work together amid a green and sunlit landscape of

plenty. Behind them, releasing a peaceful plume of steam, rises the beautifully symmetrical cone

of Mayon stratovolcano. It is the ash erupted by the volcano over its highly-active history that has made

the surrounding landscape fertile, and the tranquil cone appears here to be a beneficial spirit of the earth

standing guardian over the villagers and their crops. Mayon’s eruptions can be very destructive (as in the

violent eruption of 1947, not long before this picture was painted, when pyroclastic flows and lahars

brought widespread destruction and fatalities) but here the relationship between the volcano and the

surrounding landscape is depicted as a positive, fruitful and harmonious one. Mayon is a

celebrated symbol of the Philippines, and its presence in Amorsolo’s painting emphasizes his wish to

represent the spirit of the nation on canvas.

THE PALAY MAIDEN

The Palay Maiden truely Filipino because of the details shown in the piece. A lady posing for a smile
while holding palay reflects the Filipino's culture since rice is a big commodity to our country. In the old
days, women are the ones who harvest the rice while men are the ones who plow the field. It also
reflects the Filipino's beauty. The lady is portrayed with Round face, nose and the dark brown
complexion unlike the western type of beauty. In conclusion, what makes the Palay Maiden truly Filipino
because of the Palay (Which can be seen in the painting) and the beauty of a Filipina.
CARLOS BOTONG FRANCISCO

Carlos V. Francisco (1912-1969), popularly known as "Botong", was a distinguished muralist from and
best known for his historical pieces. Also known as the Poet of Angono, Rizal he single-handedly brought
back the art of mural painting in Philippines. He was one of the of the modernist artists together with
Galo Ocampo and Victorio Edades known as " The Triumvirate" who broke away from romanticism style
of Fernando Amorsolo's Philippine Scenes.

He went to School of Fine Arts in University of the Philippines, although he came from the same school
of arts as Amorsolo, he did not follow the traditional style but developed a modernist style. After the
2nd World War, he taught in School of Fine Arts in University of Santo Tomas at the same time working
with Manuel Conde for cinema. He worked as scriptwriter for films such as "Ghengis Khan", "Putol na
Kampilan", and "Tatlong Labuyo". He make costumes design also for films "Romeo at Julieta", "Prinsipe
Tenoso", "Ibong Adarna", "Siete Infantes de Lara and "Juan Tamad" series.

His major works includes Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade, Muslim Betrothal,
Blood Compact, First Mass at Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta,
Bayanihan sa Bukid and Sandugo. His major masterpiece is the mural for Bulwagang Katipunan of the
Manila City Hall.

He was the second Filipino who received the title of National Artist in Painting in 1973 after Fernando
Amorsolo. Among of his awards are first prize for his work "Kaingin" at the annual Art Association of the
Philippines, "Most Outstanding Alumnus" in 1959, and Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964.
ARTWORKS

FIESTA