NIEVA MARIE ESTENZO HUMANITIES 101 FEBRUARY 13, 2019

CHENNY MARIE CANTANO 12:30 - 1:30 P.M. (MWF)

PHILIPPINE ARTS
Fernando Amorsolo

Fernando Cueto Amorsolo was a prominent and popular Filipino artist who was the first
artist to be awarded here in the Philippines as National Artist. He was known for his backlighting
technique and how he mastered the use of color and light. He did not just became a well-known
painter in the Philippines but he was also a distinguished international figure. His artworks
mostly depicts Philippine settings or events in Philippine history and was full of vibrant
impressive brushwork.

Fernando Amorsolo was born with a talent in visual art, though his family was having
financial difficulties at first, he was able to go beyond the country with the help of a sponsor.
Through his talent in painting, he was able to go to school in Madrid and was able to go around
Spain and a little while in New York. Bringing his harnessed skills from his journey, experiences
and observation from there, he was able to utilized those and became famous for his artworks
which pretty much evoke a great deal of Philippine identity, culture, tradition and ideals.
Tinikling Dance
Planting Rice
 Fernando Amorsolo's Subject and Materials used
The subject of Fernando Amorsolo's paintings were about the everyday life of Filipinos
way back when industrialization are not yet progressive. Native Filipinos, in our history, enjoy
their lives in the farmland with their everyday works. This is what Amorsolo emphasized in his
artworks and it somehow reflect his patriotism in our homeland. The Philippine genre and
historical is the theme that composes mostly of his artworks before.

The style used in his two paintings - the Tinikling Dance and the Planting Rice - reflects
realism. It shows the accurate depiction of the Filipinos provincial life before in our history.
These paintings are set in rural area. The color effect of the two paintings is light because the
colors used were mostly pastel in nature. The bright colors were used by Amorsolo to produce a
feeling of calm and peace to his paintings. The farmers in the Planting Rice painting, regardless
of their gender, are on with their usual work under a bright sunny day. Even though rice planting
is definitely hard work, the painting made it look like a simple work and fine day to be out. While
in the Tinikling Dance painting, The farmers are entertaining themselves through a Tinikling
dance after the exhaustive work they have in the farm.

Amorsolo’s trademark were the backlighting technique and the Filipino tradition
themes. In rice planting, the backlighting technique manifested wherein figures are outlined
against a characteristic glow, and intense light on one part of the canvas highlights nearby
details. Amorsolo’s works has sunlight as its consistent element in his paintings. Brush strokes
were smooth which emphasizes the serene feel that he wants to let the people see in his works.
He is into oil painting in the majority of his artworks.
 Impact to Fernando Amorsolo's Works
We chose to showcase Fernando Amorsolo as our subject for written report, because he
did not just simply became a painter to us, he was also an advocate of what the Philippines
greatly value. He was proud of where he came from and was not ashamed to exhibit the
Filipinos and the Philippine setting in general. Justifiably, he is indeed deserving to be part of
our report, rasing Philippine spirit and Filipino soul.

One artwork that deserves a portion of this report, is the Tinikling Dance. It was a
painting full of nostalgia and festivity. It allowed us to reminisce and remember our very own
homeland. It connects us back to the Philippine history and treasure. Indeed, it makes you go
back and appreciate how wonderful it is living and dancing in the countryside and simply being
happy. It was a painting to be proud of.

The Planting Rice painting also gives impact to us in a way that it is trying to transmit us
a message that to value the local jobs in our homeland especially farming. It is also sending us
an idea of appreciating the farmers with their jobs since we all know that farming was never an
easy job and it requires effort, time, and patience to have a bountiful harvest. Although the
struggles of the farmers are incomparable when it talks about hard work, this painting is giving
us the feels that the farmers love what they are doing as it was shown here that they are staying
at a common place and has been united to finish planting rice in a specific spot in a hectares of
farmland.