HUMANITIES

RICHARD NICKO L. MARCELO

FERNANDO AMORSOLO
Fernando Amorsolo was born May 30, 1892, in the Paco

district of Manila. At 13 he was apprenticed to the noted Philippine artist Fabian de la Rosa, his mother's first cousin. In 1909 Amorsolo enrolled at the Liceo de Manila and then attended the fine-arts school at the University of the Philippines, graduating in 1914. After working three years as a commercial artist and part-time instructor at the university, he studied at the Escuela de San Fernando in Madrid. For seven months he sketched at the museums and on the streets of Madrid, experimenting with the use of light and color. That winter he went to New York and discovered the works of the postwar impressionists and cubists, who became the major influence on his works. On his return to Manila, he set up his own studio.
Amorsolo, who died in 1972, is said to have painted

more than 10,000 pieces. He continued to paint even in his late 70s, despite arthritis in his hands. Even his late works feature the classic Amorsolo tropical sunlight. He said he hated "sad and gloomy" paintings, and he executed only one painting in which rain appears.

THE PLANTING RICE

One of the most famous work of National

artist Fernando Amorsolo

It was an ideal picture of provincial life

like most of his paintings.

The genre that was used in this painting

is realism as the artist painted the details as to how it might look like in real life.
Its visual weight is light because the

colors used were mostly neutral in nature.

dark colors were used minimally to

produce a feeling of calm and peace.

Though rice planting is definitely hard

work, the painting made it look like a simple work and fine day to be out.

ANTIPOLO FIESTA
Portrays a rural scene where a group of

people are shown celebrating a fiesta in Antipolo.

The main focus is on a pair of dancers in

the field surrounded by celebrators both young and old.

Abundant food is presented in basketfuls

of assorted fruits on the benches and on the ground, as well as the traditional roasted pig or lechon being prepared by two men.
Nearby is a house with huge windows

from where dwellers watch the partygoers.

At the background is a huge church, a symbolic town structure.

A vast number of townsmen complete the essence of a fiesta.

SUNSET: RETURN OF THE FISHERMEN

The portrait shows the sun is going down and t it's time to call it a day for the fishermen.

A large palm tree sways slightly on the far left of the canvas, with one branch of leaves browning from the dry heat.
A small boat is docking by the shore and three figures of fishermen. The horizon in the far distance is a spectacular sunset.

There is a shadow of a mountain that is hazily covered by a pale fog.

The reflection of the clouds on the water is equally as majestic and the pale ripple of the water tells it's been a rather calm and usual day There are nipa huts to the right of the frame that are also reflected in the water and another boat that is unoccupied that is just beached by the shore. The reflection of the clouds and intense horizon on the waters surface gives a sense of calmness and serenity. The whole picture makes the viewer feel going back to nature and to simplicity which is really what God has intended for us.