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

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

ABOUT THE WORK

The mother and child theme, a lasting tradition in Philippine art, possesses a sentimental appeal that transcends cultural norms and barriers due to our inherent matriarchal nature. Mother and Child is one of Jose Joya’s occasional forays into his figurative cum genre roots. He created his mother and child compositions humble and rustic, perfectly portraying the simple countryside living that all urban dwellers have. For the lot at hand, a tender moment is captured in the canvas – a younglooking woman holds her firstborn by her side, as if teaching the infant how to stand. He depicted the mother as youthful and dressed in a traditional garment, her baro’t saya has billowing butterfly sleeves that evoke an almost transparent and ethereal quality. With his masterful and eloquent technique, Jose Joya, a National Artist, was able to visually narrate the everlasting bond between a mother and her child. The pastel piece is dated 1993, it is indeed one of his late works before his death in 1995. A year before its creation, Jose Joya was named one of the Ten Outstanding Asean Artists in 1992. (P.I.R.)