Lot description
Fernando Amorsolo (1892 - 1972) Signed and dated '1949' (lower right) Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm (18 x 24 in) Provenance: Private Collection, USA 20th Century and Contemporary Art (Morning Session), lot 151, Christie's Hong Kong, 26 May 2019 Private Collection, Quezon City This 1940s oil-on-canvas painting by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, from his celebrated 'Golden Period,' depicts farmers resting beneath a large tree, echoing the themes found in his iconic 'Afternoon Meal of the Rice Workers' series. Don S. Amorsolo, the artist's grandson and Dean of the UE College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design, reflects on the portrayal of women in these works, highlighting their essential roles in both domestic and agricultural settings. In Amorsolo's paintings, women are depicted working alongside men, a dynamic clearly visible in the foreground and middle ground. This composition allows viewers to peer into the daily lives of these workers as if through a 'window,' offering a layered understanding of their world. French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan's theories on the signifier and the signified offer further insight into Amorsolo's approach. Lacan suggests that the signifier--the form or appearance of a symbol--does not carry a fixed meaning but gains significance through context. In Amorsolo's art, the recurring images of peasant figures act as stable signifiers, symbolizing the essence of rural life. Their consistent presence is not a mere repetition but a deliberate choice, reflecting Amorsolo's deep connection to his symbolic universe and his personal experiences. Rather than signaling a lack of variety or reliance on familiar themes, the repetition of these figures is an intentional artistic strategy. It emphasizes Amorsolo's ongoing exploration of his symbolic world, with each painting representing a return to the imagined landscape of his youth. Through this approach, Amorsolo not only revisits but deepens his portrayal of peasant life, adding thematic richness and personal resonance to his work. Reference: Sylvia Amorsolo Lazo, et al, Maestro Fernando C. Amorsolo: Recollections of the Amorsolo Family, Fernando C. Amorsolo Foundation, Inc., Quezon City, 2011, pp. 43-49
