ABOUT THE WORK

National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz started his now-iconic Tres Marias series in the 1970s. At the time, he was a frequent and welcome guest at the Manila Hilton, one of the country's leading hotels during the aforementioned era. Thus, he would use the Hilton's hotel staff as his muse for his series of Tres Marias paintings. Alcuaz would also go beyond depicting three beautiful female figures, visually articulating their gestures and poses and defining the laidback space they inhabit. This masterpiece showcases his sophisticated approach to portraiture as he captured the beauty, charm, and grace of his women subjects. Somber colors are used, yet a certain glow is evoked with his play of light and shadow. Alcuaz's women appear relaxed, rendered with his assured brushstrokes, refined figurative style, and sense of color that sets the overall mood. Here, one also sees the master artist's compositional playfulness toward his artistry. (J.D.)