Provenance: Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

ABOUT THE WORK

Considered and recognized as one of the foremost Modern Artists that emerged from the post-war era, Hugo Yonzon captured the everyday Filipino—fishermen, farmers, and the like—through a variety of styles and techniques. Born in 1924, Yonzon originally worked as an illustrator, cartoonist, and photographer for various advertising projects. Yonzon then found his true calling in painting where he primarily depicted scenes of Filipino rural and idyllic life. But, what makes Yonzon’s body of work unique and groundbreaking was his consistent adoption of multiple styles, forms, and techniques over the span of his career. While most artists have a clearly demarcated stylistic genealogy, where one can easily scrutinize the development and adoption of an overarching style and preference, Yonzon constantly shifted back and forth between art styles. While he initially painted using a Classicist’s eye, Yonzon eventually dappled with novel forms of expression such as cubism and abstract expressionism. His canon can be seen as one that emphasizes narrative flow, using a particular art form and technique as an integral part of his storytelling. This particular piece is one that features Yonzon’s primary interest in the Classical Tradition, inspired by the likes of Amorsolo, Hidalgo, and Luna. His use of tradition emphasizes the historical primacy of the narrative featured in the work; one depicting the first mass at Limasawa. But, one can easily see Yonzon’s departure from a strictly regimented classical style through his use of heavy and distinct coloration and the cubist-like treatment of his forms and figures.