This piece is accompanied by a certificate issued by the National Museum signed by Alejandro Roces, Nestor Vinluan, Napoleon Abueva, and Corazon Alvina confirming the authenticity of this lot

ABOUT THE WORK

Victorio Edades found inspiration for his latter works in the modernist idiom of Cezanne, Picasso, and Gauguin. Modernism as a movement in the Philippines opened formally in 1928 at the Columbian Club in Manila with a bang—an exhibition of works by Victorio Edades. The most controversial painting in this landmark exhibition was The Builders, a dark and heavily textured work depicting men working in a quarry. His works departed entirely from the classicism of de la Rosa and the pastoral style of Amorsolo. Both as an artist and a writer, he was to wage a tireless campaign—through endless debates carried on in the press with conservative writers and artists—for the cause of modern art. Edades not only introduced Modernism in Philippine art, but also gave it its earnest guidance and spiritual spark.