In this jewel of a work, Joya uses a rich, luscious application of paint. The dynamic composition is solidly constructed and broadly handled, combining the brush and palette knife, exemplifying this Philippine National Artist’s dexterity. Jose Joya was an abstract expressionist, in the era of the of New York school. Art critic Eric Torres has described his works as expressive not so much of statements but of of states of feeling. After Joya’s celebrated return from the 1964 Venice Bienniale, he continued to create vibrant, impactful works, eventually making his mark as the country’s foremost abstractionist. The impetus of Joya’s art characterized by a lyric and poetic sensibility.