Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

ABOUT THE WORK

Angelito Antonio’s 1968 Study 1 showcases the myriad of styles he uses and creates a cohesive story out of it. One of the most renowned modernist Filipino artists, Study 1 (created nearer the start of his career) is a fresh look at Antonio’s career. His oeuvre is known for its vibrant color palette full of acidic yellows and cerulean blues and vivid reds; in contrast, this piece, while containing slivers of the color palette he would be known to have, is primarily inky black and off-white scribbles. The scribbles of black and white ink seem to surround the man up in the center (noticeable muted blue in coloring), almost covering him in their own colors. With very little blue noticeable unless one looks deeply, it seems as though the black and white paint is suffocating the man, drowning out his own color. Study 1, as the title suggests, is a study of Antonio’s iconic art style and his beloved muses – the Philippines and the Filipino. A great starting point to observe the growth of his style, Study 1 proves Antonio’s dexterity and talent as one of the most influential artists of the modernist era, the start of a prosperous career that spanned over half a century. (Hannah Valiente)