Provenance: Private Collection, Bacolod City

ABOUT THE WORK

Angelito Antonio is one of the living masters of Modernism. He is popular for painting scenes from the Filipino rustic life in his famous Cubist style which incorporates the use of bright festive colors. His favorite subjects are farmers, fighting cocks, vendors selling their wares and produce in markets, churches, and sidewalks. He also painted many versions of the Mother and Child such as this particular work. Although he had a Cubist style which he was famous for, he often explored Expressionism. In 1968, poet and writer Jolico Cuadra, mentioned that Antonio's brushstrokes and colors had a "harshness" which were "Expressionist explosions of fire”. This Mother and Child was painted with thick robust brushstrokes that have spontaneity and energy. The palette which Antonio used are earth tones which are not the usual colors he uses for most of his paintings. Here he uses shades of burnt sienna, cinnamon, ginger, yellow ochre and butter yellow. Although this Mother and Child is not a holy image, these brown woodsy shades are reminiscent of the primitive style wooden "santos" with distressed paint. The earth colors are lit up by the shades of emerald green and light jade green. The patches of green signifies new life and the optimistic thought that hope springs eternal.