C.

Philippine Art History

Mr. John Riel B. Labiang
 Introduction
Philippine Art History refers to Filipino works of
art that have developed in country from the
beginning of its civilization up to the present era.
Accumulation of these works in museums all over
the country reflects the culture of the Philippine
society and the wide range of cultural influences
fro countries that happen to interact with its people.
It also considers how other country’s culture
influenced local arts that resulted in Filipino
artworks as it is known today.
Pre-Colonial Art (Before 1521)
Early evidence of ancient tools and other
artefacts abound in the different islands of
the Philippines. Many objects created for
daily use can be found all over the country
in places like Batangas, Cagayan, Central
Luzon, Davao and Palawan.
Two of the objects that were discovered
were described to be the crudest form of
stone tools flake tools. Below are
descriptions of other artefacts that were
discovered:
 Receptacles
These were containers fashioned by early Filipins to
enclose and protect the bodies of their relatives.
Protection and consecration of the bodies supported
what scientists thought about early Filipinos believing
in life after death and immortality of the soul.
The containers served as a funerary for the dead.
Coffins made out of tree barks and fibbers woven into
mats may also function as receptacles of food and
other belongings which will accompany the dead on
their journey to the other world.
Receptacles can also be made of leaves,
wood and bamboo. The bamboo was the
most popular material because of its
abundance and natural characteristic.
 Textile Weaving
Flat stone tools believed to have been used
to pound and flatten tree barks into primitive
types of textile have been excavated.
 Jewelry
Shells were used for accessories; bracelets
and pendants. A piece of cone shell,
presumably an earring is an example of
ancient jewellery.
It was discovered in Duyong cave, Palawan.
Shells, animal bones and small stones were
the earliest adornments.
 Pottery
Clay pots were discovered which dated as early as
710 B.C.E, In Masbate. The most convenient way
to classify and study thousands of pre-Hispanic
pottery is to classify them according to shape.
Method of decoration and type of design on the
surface.
 Pottery
Shape. Is the description of the vessel’s body, the
form its mouth, the thickness of its lips, or the
presence of ears, spouts and legs attached to its
body.
Method of decoration is the manner by which
designs are applied on the body’s surface.
Decorative designs are either impressed or incised.
 a. Impressed designs
Involve pressing on the vessels certain
objects like a rope, string, or small piece of
mat while the surface clay is still wet. This
will leave an impression on the surface of
the clay as it dries.
 b. Incised designs
Make use of sharp objects to draw patterns
on the earthenware's still wet body, like the
picture at the left.
 Abstract designs
Consist of dots, straight lines and curved lines,
which are inspired by nature.
Examples are seeds, stars, waves, clouds, flowers
and feathers which primitive Filipinos stylized into
simple, flowing forms.
 Representational designs
Are usually of objects in nature.
For example trees, animals and drawings of
human figures.
 Sculpture
The Manuggul Burial Jar (dated 980-710 B>C>E),
is regarded as the symbol of Philippine Pre-historic
artefacts.
It was found in Palawan and is named after the
cave where it was found.
The jar is 66.5 cm. In height and 51 cm.
It is surmounted by a group sculpture which is a
representation of the soul of the dead person being
transported by the figure roaring the boat into the
afterlife.
Figures representing spirits constituted most of the
early Philippines representational sculpture. The
Tagalogs called their religious images likha, tao-
tao, and larawan. These images represented the
anitos or the spirits whom the early Filipinos
believed in and prayed to.
 Architecture
The early inhabitants of the Philippines were
seafaring people. The houses during 16th century
were single room constructions with walls of
bamboo and roof of palm leaves. The ground floor
was usually for storage. Cooking and washing
were done in a part of the house called batalan.
 Bahay-Kubo
Is built from bamboo and nipa which are the most
common construction materials in the rural areas.
The Philippines being tropical country with long
dry seasons make the bahay kubo very functional
in terms of comforts and affordability of materials.
 Ifugao house
Are so structured because of the cold climate of
the Mountain province. The Ifugaos construct their
houses in a manner that would assure protection
from the low temperature and the rains common in
the Mt. Province.
 Maranao house
Is a traditional house with a boat-like appearance.
This description is primarily because of the
presence of the panolong, the prow-like end of the
beams that support the flooring of the house.
The beams interlock with the columns of the
house, from under the walls.
The rectangle shape of the house and its wide
sloping roof suggests the boat-like appearance of
the structure.
 Muslim Art
a. Sarimanok is a representational of an open-
winged legendary bird which stands on a fish
with another fish hanging from its break it
usually placed on top of bamboo poles at the
center of Maranao villages among decorative
flags during festive occasions.
b. Naga is a stylized dragon or serpent carved in
grave markers or elaborately in plows.
 Art of the Mountain
Province
Wood is the medium of choice in the art of the
Mountain Province. It is used in making shields,
spoons, ladles, bowls and also human and animal
figure. Woodcarving is considered an important
skill in all tribes.
Iron melting and bronze-casting are the other skills
of the ifugaos and itned. Iron is used for making
functional materials like axes and spears. Bronze,
brass and gold are used for making other
ornaments which includes jewelleries.
Mountain art is divided into tow kinds: the
ritualistic and decorative. The bulol (a figure of
benevolent spirit who guards granaries and rice
fields) and the bihang ( a figure meant to scare and
create fear of punishment in anybody who goes
against the norms of the village) abstract designs
seen in textiles, bamboo containers, brass and gold
ornaments are all decorative.
The Spanish-Colonial Art (1521-1898)
For the Catholic faith to be propagated successfully, it
should be able to communicate well with the educated
as well as the uneducated. The best ay to achieve this
is through art.
Religious painting, sculptures, literature, music, dance
and theatre have all contributed to instilling the
doctrines of the Catholic faith into the hearts and
minds of the early Filipinos
 Architecture
Fr. Antonio Sedeno, a jesuit, introduced lime (a
significant component of cement) in the construction
of buildings. He was responsible for the construction
of the first fortress, the Nuestra Senora de Guia in
Manila, and was instrumental in the planning and
building of the Manila’s Secular residences.
Early painting and sculptural works for the church
were largely given to the Chinese artisans living in a
community outside Intramuros called the Parian.
 Sculpture
Carving which began in the pre-Hispanic times in
making the likha (a local deity) was redirected by the
friars into the creation of santos (sculptures of saints),
Most of the santos had been carved out of wood, the
most available material. Animal bone and vivory were
also used.
The making of santos were strictly supervised by the
church authorities for fear that the natives might
include pagan elements into the prescribed
iconography of the church.
Famous sculptors of this period were Juan delos Santos who carved
several retablos for the Augustinian church in Intamuros and
Lorenzo Flores who carved the escudo of the Franciscan Order
found inn front of the tayabas Church.
Santos Ivory and animal bone usually of the quita y pone (remove
and put) type. The large, costumed church statues belong to this
type.
The body parts of these figures are removable, especially for the
purpose of changing and washing their garments.
A glass of Santo of this type is often adorned with glass for eyes,
human hair for its hair and lashes, and clothing of velvet and silk
embroidered with gold and silver threads which glimmered with
sequins and semi-precious stones.
 Painting
A rise of national consciousness was expressed
through the reform movement during the 19th century.
The Sociedad Economia de Amigos dela Paris, a civic
conscious organization, aimed to encourage the
development of the visual arts which led to the
establishment of the Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura in
1821. The first
 Printmaking
 One of the artistic forms that involves a large audience is
printmaking. The pioneer and mentor in Philippine raphic
art is Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., who opened his contemporary
graphic at workshop in Malate to attract artist to the new
medium.
 He specialized in etching. Three of his sons – Manuel, Jr.,
Marcelino and Ray were also accomplished printmakers.
 The Philippine Association of Printmakers was founded in
1968 and offered workshops in the various graphic
mediums.
 The association developed outstanding printmakers: Raul
Isidro, Orlando Castillo, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Rodolfo
Paras Perez in wood cut; Rodolfo Samonte in serigraphy,
Virgilio Avido in etching and Ofelia Gelvezon in etching.
Thank you!