Fernando Amorsolo
Fillipino, 1892-1972
Place of BirthManila, Philippines
Place of DeathQuezon City, Philippines
Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto was one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light.
In 1922 Amorsolo made his first important painting, Rice Planting, which became one of the most popular images of the Commonwealth period, appearing in several versions in calendars, posters, and tourist brochures. During his peak years in the 1930s, 1940s, and the 1950s, he widely exhibited both in the Philippines and abroad, including New York and Belgium. His works covered a wide range which included portraits, landscapes, and genre. He also did illustrations for children's textbooks and novels, commercial designs, cartoons for the magazine. He was the first to extensively portray traditional Filipino customs and manners, fiestas, and occupations like fishing, planting, going to market, washing laundry, cooking, and reading.
In 1922 Amorsolo made his first important painting, Rice Planting, which became one of the most popular images of the Commonwealth period, appearing in several versions in calendars, posters, and tourist brochures. During his peak years in the 1930s, 1940s, and the 1950s, he widely exhibited both in the Philippines and abroad, including New York and Belgium. His works covered a wide range which included portraits, landscapes, and genre. He also did illustrations for children's textbooks and novels, commercial designs, cartoons for the magazine. He was the first to extensively portray traditional Filipino customs and manners, fiestas, and occupations like fishing, planting, going to market, washing laundry, cooking, and reading.