PROPERTY FROM THE ANTONIO GATMAITAN COLLECTION
Trees
signed and dated 1978 (lower center)
watercolor on paper
22" x 12" (56 cm x 30 cm)

PROVENANCE:Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner


Known for his extensive body of work that depict heroism, heritage and virtue Cesar Legaspi has melded into his art a distinct Filipino character that bears with it a sense of place and culture that is wholly unique to the country’s history and aesthetic. As one of the Thirteen Moderns, Legaspi helped develop and revolutionize the local artistic landscape in order to accommodate the groundbreaking ideals and aspirations that defined the 20th century. In this particular work, one can see Legaspi mastery over the medium of watercolor. Though watercolor was not a particularly new medium inherent to the 20th Century and or Modernism, its often challenging and unpredictable nature made it a medium of interest by Modernists, such as Legaspi, who wanted to push the limits of art and artistic experimentation. Such is the case with this piece. Though it features a common scene, Legaspi emphasis on form and color affords it a particularly Modernist flair that separates it from previous works done in the same medium.