Provenance: Private Collection, Manila

ABOUT THE WORK

Although known to be a challenging subject, nudes borne from Vicente Manansala’s hand appear to be done rather effortlessly. Potent is Manansala’s imagery, ever so eloquently capturing his sitter without foregoing his artistic predilections and sensibilities. In this very work, the prismatic quality of the subject is forgone, giving us a view of Manansala’s draughtsmanship. The very translucence of the figure is akin to that of Manansala’s transparent cubism, sans the planar forms. The brilliant concoction of tones in contrast put on display Manansala’s deft hand and adept mastery of his media — a stunning play on light and figuration.