ABOUT THE WORK

Postwar Neorealist painter Romeo Tabuena’s aesthetic features transparent cubism and the usage of colors such as yellows, ochres, and browns to evoke a dramatic feel or mood changes. He also developed stylistic techniques reminiscent of Chinese paintings. His works feature the everyday workman or common folk—from farmers to vendors—native plants, and country scenes, among other elements of both Filipino and Mexican cultural themes. Despite being geographically far from his homeland, having moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he lived a simple life as a prolific artist, it is noted that he stayed in touch with his Filipino roots as seen in his art and nationalism. Active in the local art scene, Tabuena’s works were displayed in numerous exhibits at the Philippine Art Gallery during the 1950s, among other significant shows later on. This work particularly shows the influence of Cubism and Chinese vertical format painting in Tabuena’s artistic development, as he worked with a wide range of subject matter or figures depicted through monochromatic shapes, refined brushstrokes, and effective color use.