Fruit Gatherer
signed and dated Manila 1952 (lower right)
oil on canvas
16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)
Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mrs. Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo confirming the authenticity of this lot
PROVENANCE Private Collection, USA


Fernando Amorsolo had mastered the Filipino genre painting with its idyllic renditions of country life against the backdrop of the lushness of the landscape. He also made many outdoor studies of the Filipino countryside in an ardent endeavor to capture the light and color of what he observed. Amorsolo was not a social commentator, but an aesthete who hoped to emphasize the finer qualities of his country and the people, from the beauty of the natural environment, to the natural grace of the common people and the dignity of their life and labor. Amorsolo’s depiction of the rural woman in an illuminated bucolic mise en scène aimed to capture the alluring charm of the Filipina in her natural appearance and attractiveness. Despite having Western artistic training, his portrayal of the Filipina is devoid of Westerncentric beauty standards and notions. This pursuit visually resonates in this piece depicting a rural fruit gatherer with a bilao. Amorsolo portrays a young Filipina maiden possessing a medium brown complexion that is reminiscent of the image of Maria Clara. For Amorsolo, the dalagang bukid is the quintessential Filipina muse. With the application of relatively thin and small brushstrokes, the warm, pleasant sunlight exudes an ambiance of tranquility usually associated with rural living. The tropical lighting also accentuates the physical appearance and the rustic clothing of the woman. Amorsolo perfectly encapsulates his mastery of Luminism, with the whole composition giving off a euphoric radiance due to his blissful depiction of the woman. Until his passing in 1972, Amorsolo constantly redefined his interpretation of the classic Filipina charisma that has become one of his defining legacies in Philippine art. (A.M.)