PROPERTY FROM THE DRA. REMEDIOS SUNTAY COLLECTION

León Gallery wishes to thank Mrs. Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo for confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

Trained under the authority of classical tradition where Life Class was compulsory, Fernando Amorsolo profoundly understood the intricacies of human anatomy. As evidenced by his nude works, the artist had a genuine appreciation for the human form, delightfully reveling in painting such a theme that this excursion would last throughout his career. During his brief sojourn to Spain to study, he did many drawings and paintings of the nude, even copying the celebrated Maja Desnuda of Francisco Goya. Amorsolo continued to celebrate the female figure in later years, simultaneously rendering them with tenderness and sultriness. The nature of his lines radiates a refined and alluring character that is fitting for the subject matter. Amorsolo's nude paintings show women indulging in their own presence, expressing their attitude only to themselves. His nude subjects are often in a state of seclusion, notwithstanding the "gazes" of the viewer. In this work, Amorsolo exhibits his characteristic as a "true Filipino gentleman-painter." The artist captures the essence of the nude, visually encapsulating the ideas of John Berger—"To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself... Nudity is a form of a dress."