Fernando Cueto Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine

landscapes. Nicknamed the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art,” he was the first-ever
to be recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines.

Born: May 30, 1892, Paco, Manila Died: April 24, 1972, Quezon City

Making of the Philippine flag

Fernando Amorsolo used natural light in his paintings and developed the backlighting
technique Chiaroscuro, Fernando Amorsolo made this painting to show the citizen of
the Philippines of how the Philippine flag was made and to remind them the traditions
and customs that we did not realize it becomes faded.

The painting depicted Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Natividad
weaving the very first Philippine flag. According to amorsolo, she was inspired to
create the piece because “our flag is a national symbol. It means our country is free.
It’s like a thread that unites all of us Filipinos.”

Dalagang bukid

The “Dalagang Bukid” is one of Fernando Amorsolo’s best-known paintings. The

painting, or rather its subject, was Amorsolo’s attempt to depict Filipina beauty as
opposed to the typical Maria Clara image commonly associated with local women.

The “Dalagang Bukid” or the maiden in the rice field shows a medium brown-skinned
woman portraying the Maria Clara image. Guided by the use of texture and
impressionism characterized by relatively thin and small brushstrokes, the vibrant
tropical sunlight emphasized the appearance of the woman in terms of her outfit and
skin color. Amorsolo’s style further emphasized movement. Although it is not that
conspicuous, the image that the painting depicts, in my perspective, is that the
woman was enjoying her walk by the fields, looking at the trees, she looked back with
a smile.
Planting rice

Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a dominant figure in the visual arts of the
Philippines during the decades before the Second World War and into the post-war
period. The ‘Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, Exhibits the happiness across from
the difficulties in planting rice.

Mayon is a celebrated symbol of the Philippines, and its presence in Amorsolo’s

painting emphasizes his wish to represent the spirit of the nation on canvas.

The ‘Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, Exhibits the happiness across from the
difficulties in planting rice. The Filipino Villagers in their bright clothes and straw hats
plant together with a fresh and green landscape of plenty. Behind the filipino villagers
is the peaceful flume of steam.
Amorsolo is best known for his illuminated landscapes, which often portrayed
traditional Filipino customs, culture, fiestas and occupations. His pastoral works
presented “an imagined sense of nationhood in counterpoint to American colonial
rule” and were important to the formation of Filipino national identity.