Bugaay, Rosen Anthony R.

BSIT1A

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS ABOUT “PALAY MAIDEN”

BY FERNANDO AMORSOLO

Background of the Author

 Fernando Amorsolo was born May 30, 1892, in the Paco district of Manila.
 At 13 he was apprenticed to the noted Philippine artist Fabian de la Rosa, his
mother's first cousin.
 In 1909 Amorsolo enrolled at the Liceo de Manila and then attended the fine-
arts school at the University of the Philippines, graduating in 1914.
 During the 1920s and 1930s Amorsolo's output of paintings was prodigious.
 In 1939 his oil Afternoon Meal of the Workers won first prize at the New
York World's Fair.
 Amorsolo was noted for his portraits. He made oils of all the Philippine
presidents, including the revolutionary leader Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and other
noted Philippine figures.
 Amorsolo, who died in 1972, is said to have painted more than 10,000 pieces.
 Historical background of the document

 This oil painting on canvas depicts a rural scene where a group of people are
shown celebrating a fiesta in Antipolo. The main focus is on a pair of dancers in
the field surrounded by revelers both young and old.  Abundant food is presented
in basketfuls of assorted fruits on the benches and on the ground, as well as the
traditional roasted pig or lechon being prepared by two men. Nearby is a house
with huge windows from where dwellers watch the revelers. At the background is
a huge church, a symbolic town structure.  A vast number of townsmen complete
the essence of a fiesta.

 It can be said that the pair of dancers are in the usual same pose as those of
dancers in Fernando Amorsolo’s various well-known tinikling-related paintings. A
viewer may be quick to surmise at a glance that this painting belongs to that
category, as the bamboo handlers in the usual tinikling dance often blend in the
crowd and are not easily distinguished. However, there are no bamboo-handlers
present in this painting simply because the dancers are not performing
the tinikling dance.  Thus, this indication is what makes this painting very unique.
 Content presentation and analysis of the important historical
information found in the document

My analysis about Fernando Amorsolo’s work which is “Antipolo Fiesta” is that

fiesta is part of Filipino culture which is celebrated every year The Philippine culture is
rich in customs and traditions. Philippines culture reflects the complexity of the history
of the Philippines through the combination of cultures of foreign influences. The
painting is an example of Philippine Fiesta where Filipino people gathered to
celebrate bountiful harvest. The oil painting on canvas depicts a rural scene where a
group of people are shown celebrating a fiesta in Antipolo. The main focus is on a
pair of dancers in the field surrounded by revelers both young and old. Abundant food
is presented in basketfuls of assorted fruits on the benches and on the ground, as
well as the traditional roasted pig or lechon being prepared by two men. Nearby is a
house with huge windows from where dwellers watch the revelers. At the background
is a huge church, a symbolic town structure. A vast number of townsmen completes
the essence of a fiesta.
 Contribution and relevance of the document in understanding the grand
narrative of Philippine history

The contribution of Fernando Amorsolos’ work which is “Antipolo Fiesta” in

understanding the grand narrative of Philippine history work is that through this kind of
painting shows how to live in the provincial parts of the country and it manifests
simplicity of the life of the early Filipinos way back then. The relevance of Fernando
Amorsolos’ work is that we have the same way of celebration before and until now
except in the other country. The Antipolo Fiesta is still present in our current generation
but sometimes they call it “Barrio Fiesta” in which it is celebrated for a whole generation
of Filipinos, a place for festivities, celebrations and gathering of families and friends.