ART APPRECIATION
YEAR 2
LESSON 4: PHiLiPPiNE ART HiSTORY
PHILIPPINE ART HISTORY
ü Filipino works of art that have developed in country from the
beginning of its civilization up to present
ü considers how other country's culture influenced local arts that
resulted in Filipino artworks known today.
PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINE ART (BEFORE 1521)
ü many objects created for daily use can be found all over country
in places like BTG, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Davao & Palawan
ü early evidences of ancient tools and other artifacts abound in the
different islands of the Philippines
RECEPTACLES
ü containers fashioned by early Filipinos to enclose and protect the
bodies of their dead relatives (funerary for the dead)
ü Coffins made out of tree barks and fibers woven into mats may
also function as receptacles of food and other belongings which
will accompany the dead on their journey to the other world
Bamboo: most popular material due to its abundance & natural charac.
TEXTILE WEAVINGS
ü Flat stone tools believed to have been used to pound and flatten
tree barks into primitive types of textile have been excavated
JEWELRY
ü Shells were used for accessories: bracelets and pendants.
ü Cone shell is an ex of ancient jewelry (Duyong Cave, Palawan)
ü Shells, animal bones & small stones were the earliest adornments
POTTERY
ü clay pots were discovered as early as 710 BCE in Masbate
ü most convenient way to study pre-Hispanic pottery classify them
according to:
– Shape: description of the vessel's body, form of its mouth,
presence of ears, spouts, and legs attached to its body
– Method of decoration: manner by which designs are applied on
body's surface. Either impressed or incised
o impressed- pressing on vessel certain objects (string/mat)
while clay is wet, to leave impression when it dry
o incised- use of sharp objects to draw patters in the wet body
– Design: either abstract of representational
o abstract- dots, curved or straight lines which are inspired by
nature (seeds, stars, waves, clouds, feathers)
o representational- usually objects of nature (tree, animal,
human figure)
SCULPTURE
Manunggul Burial Jar- symbol of Philippine pre-historic artifacts
-found in Palawan and named after the cave it was found
ü Figures representing spirits constituted most of the early
Philippines' representational sculpture.
ü Tagalogs called their religious images likha, tao- tao, & larawan.
ü These images represented the anitos or the spirits whom the
early Filipinos believed and prayed to
ARCHITECTURE
ü early inhabitants of the country are sea-faring people
Batalan- house where cooking and washing were done
Bahay-kubo- built form bamboo and nipa (common materials in rural
area). functional in terms of comfort and affordability
MIDTERMS
1ST SEM
Ifugao house- structured due to cold climate in mountain province, and
to assume protection from low temperature and rains
Maranao house- traditional house with boat-like experience. Presence
of Panolong (prow-end of beams that support flooring)
MUSLIM ART
ü Islam as a religion established since the early A.D. 600s.
ü Paved way for the development of its own unique style of art.
ü Place emphasis on creating an art form that is built on the beauty
and respect for the teachings of Islam.
ü Most important element of this art is the color.
SARIMANOK
ü representation of an open-winged legendary bird which stands on
a fish with another fish hanging from its beak
ü usually placed on top of bamboo poles at the center of Maranao
villages among decorative flags during festive occasions
NAGA
ü stylized dragon or serpent carved on grave markers or elaborately
in plows
OKIR
ü enhanced by greens, yellows, red, violet and blues
ü general term for colorful flowing desgns which decorate any
surface of muslin regions
ü elaborate curvilinear motifs by Maranaos and Tausug tribes
ü sarimanok, naga, & pako rabong (fern) decorate house of sultans
ü okir-a-datu ornamental designs for men and okir-a-bay for women
Ukkil- design technique usually seen in Sulu
Peninsula.
- decorative design used in carving,
basketry, pottery & weaving.
- pattern is similar to Western style
Arabesque and Art Noveau.
ü The elegance of Maranao brass work is best with seen in the
kabul and gadur, jar-like containers with covers that resemble the
domes of their mosques.
ü Stylized and geometric motifs are also applied on tools, weapons
and musical instruments. Weaponry include:
Kampilan- long sword, its handle resembling open mouth of a naga.
Kris- wavy flame-like blade representing the body of a serpent.
Barong- leaf-like blade having the same geometric designs on its hilt.
ART OF THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
Woodcarving- considered an important skill in all tribes
Wood- medium of choice in the art of the Mountain Province.
- Used in making shields, spoons, ladles, bowls, and also
human and animal figures.
1
Iron Melting and Bronze-casting- other skills of the Ifugaos and Itneg.
– Iron- making functional materials like axes and spears
– Bronze- making other ornaments which includes jewelries
Metals used for Art
Gold- Used for making other ornaments which includes jewelries
Brass- Used for making other ornaments which includes jewelries
Mountain art is divided into two kinds
1. Ritualistic
Bulol- figure of a benevolent spirit who guards granaries and rice fields
Bihang- meant to scare and create fear of punishment in anybody who
goes against the norms of the village
2. Decorative
- Abstract designs seen in textiles, bamboo containers, brass and gold
ornaments are all decorative.
SPANISH COLONIAL ART (1521-1898)
ü started when the Philippines was colonized by Spaniards
ü introduced formal paintings, sculpture and architecture influenced
with Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo art style.
ü Most art are religious. paintings, sculptures, literature, music,
dance, and theatre have all contributed to instilling doctrines of
the Catholic faith into the hearts and minds of early Filipinos.
ARCHITECTURE: FR. ANTONIO SEDENO (JESUIT)
ü introduced lime (component of cement) in construction of bldgs.
ü construction of the first fortress, the Nuestra Señora de Guia Fort
in Manila, and was instrumental in the planning and building of
the Manila’s Secular residences.
ü early painting & sculptural works for church were largely given to
Chinese artisans living outside Intramuros called the ‘Parian’.
SCULPTURE: CARVING
ü began in the pre-Hispanic times in making the likha, was
redirected by the friars into the creation of santos.
ü Most of santos had been carved out of wood, the most available
material. Animal bone and ivory were also used.
ü making of santos were strictly supervised by church authorities
for fear that the natives might include pegan elements into the
prescribed iconography of the church
Juan delos Santos- Famous sculptor of the period
- carved several retablo for Augustinian church in Intramuros
Lorenzo Flores- carved escudo of the Franciscan Order found in front
of the Tayabas Church.
ü Santos of ivory & animal bone are usually quita y pone (remove
and put) type. large, costumed church statues belong to this type
ü body parts of this figures are removable, especially for the
purpose of changing and washing their garments.
ü santo of this type is often adorned with glass for eyes, human hair
for its hair & lashes, & clothing of velvet & silk embroidered with
gold & silver threads which glimmered with sequins & semi-
precious stones.
PAINTING: CARVING
ü rise of national consciousness was expressed through the reform
movement during the 19th century.
Sociedad Economica de Amigo dela Palais- civic conscious org aimed
to encourage the development of the visual arts which led to
the establishment of Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura in 1821.
Damian Domingo - first teacher
- a mestizo whose talents impressed local authorities.
- technique of painting may be from his works, where
detailed and fine lines give volume or body to objects or parts
of the human figure.
ü With establishment of the first school of fine arts, the painting of
secular objects were formally taught. earliest portraits were done
in miniature, size of a thumb nail. painters are called miniaturists.
ü Large portraits of wealthy natives began to appear in 1850. The
students of Academia also did local landscapes & genre painting.
Juan Luna- he won a silver medal for his La Muerte de la Cleopatra at
Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 for Spoliarium.
Felix Hidalgo- he won a sliver medal for his Christian Virgins Exposed
to the Populace in Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes.
PRINTING
Nicolas Bagay- one of outstanding engravers who ran a printing press.
Francisco Suarez - also known for his designs in 1733 and for the 12
scenes depicting representative life in the islands.
- They signed their works, proudly writing Indio Tagalo after
their signature.
18th century- gravings were printed from copper plates and wood cuts.
19th century- introduction of litograph prints eventually replaced
engraving on copper.
AMERICAN COLONIAL ART (1898-1946)
ARCHITECTURE
ü introduction of new materials (reinforced concrete, glass and
steel, in neo-classical style
ü Juan Arellano, Tomas Mapua, Antonio Toledo
SCULPTURE: Guillermo Tolentino, sculptor of Bonifacio Monument
PAINTING
ü Filipino painters depicted scened from countrysude
ü Fabian de la Rosa (Rice Planters) and Fernando Amorsolo
(Planying Rice) dominated and influenced aret scene with
landscape painting
ART OF POST-WAR PERIOD (after 1946)
ARCHITECTURE
ü Massive rehabilitation and reconstruction was seen
ü Leandro Locsin designed the Cultural Center of the Philippines
and earned a National Artist Award.
SCULPTURE
ü Napoleon Abueva is considered the first modern Filipino sculptor
ü Abdulmari Imao, a sculptor from Jolo; Solomon Saprid, for his
Peace-loving Tikbalang; and Eduardo Castrillo for massive
sculptures of The Last Supper
PAINTING
ü establishment of Art Association of the Philippines & Philippine
Art Gallery helped introduce modern art to support its struggle
against conservative art, & to create patronage among art-buyers
ü early post-war modernist, call themselves Neo-Realists.
ü Vicente Manansala (Madonna of the Slums)
ü Carlos Francisco (Sungka Players)
ü works are influenced by various Western art styles (post-
impressionism, abstraction, cubism, expressionism & surrealism)
PRINTMAKING
ü One of the artistic forms that involves a large audience
Manuel Rodriguez, Sr.- pioneer and mentor in Philippine graphic art
- opened his Contemporary Graphic Art Workshop in Malate
to attract artist to the new medium. He specialized in etching.