Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

Portraying the beauty of the human body is a challenge to any artist. For centuries, nudes have been embodiments of classical beauty and ideal form. The basis of Vicente Manansala’s technical proficiency in depicting nudes was his ability to draw. Draftsmanship was a discipline to which the artist subjected himself. In the vast oeuvre of Manansala, of note are his works on pastel. His outstanding use of the medium is truly a spectacle, as he captures nudes with such refined composure and restrain. Beyond his impressive draftsmanship is his masterful eye, as he puts on display his understanding of light, gracefully completing the composition in all its simple eloquence. Unlike in the style of anatomical cubism, he does not fragment and dissect the nude human figure, leaving generous clues of its identity. Instead, he stays close to the actual figure.