PROPERTY FROM THE DR. AND MRS. VICTOR REYES COLLECTION

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

Art as a potent medium to preserve the past rings true for Ibarra dela Rosa. In an attempt to eternalize the glory of local historical landmarks, at least on his canvases, he created the Intramuros Series in 1973 and the Fort Santiago Series in 1974. However, prior to his two famous series, there were his simple oil paintings, such as the lot at hand titled Barong-Barong, dated 1970. His take on street architecture as a subject was rendered with precise draftsmanship and a colorful palette selection that truly does stand out, transforming scenes into dream-like settings. His oeuvres may seem everchanging from period to period, but the allure culled from the vibrance and brilliance pervading the piece is always present. For that, he was regarded as the pioneer of meticulous Impressionism in the Philippine art landscape. There is much acclaim in the artistic career of dela Rosa, he had many followers and buyers during his lifetime. He was also among the pioneering batch of Dimasalang Artists, an influential group that possessed an assortment of styles and influences. In 1970, when this piece was made, he held his first solo show at the Solidaridad Gallery, and two years after in 1972, he became a recipient of the highly coveted Thirteen Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (P.I.R.)