Provenance: Private Collection, Manila

ABOUT THE WORK

In art, nudes are seen as embodiments of classical beauty and ideal form. To depict the eloquence and beauty of a person’s physique is a challenge for many artists, but Vicente Manansala was among the ones who demonstrated a profound understanding of human anatomy. Manansala’s nude works, whether in any medium he employed, show his dexterity and expertise in depicting the human body. When he was in his prime, a model would come to his house on Wednesdays to pose in the nude. Here, he captured the appealing features and even the flaws of the flesh with utmost realism, and, owing to the master’s clever manipulation, lights and shadows interact harmoniously in this charcoal piece. (Isabella Romarate)