阿莫索羅

私人收藏，美國

The work is in good condition overall, as is the board, which is clear and free from warping and cracks. There is evidence of light wear and handling around the edges of the painting, but the paint layers are healthy and well-preserved. Examination under ultraviolet light shows no sign of restoration. Framed.
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The master of Philippine genre painting, Amorsolo painted prolifically during what was called his “golden period” from 1920s-1940s. He is known for his idyllic, sunlit rural landscapes featuring community gatherings and, more often, a beautiful Filipina woman. He portrayed the laboring common people with a glowing dignity and grace. These open, bright compositions were Amorsolo’s attempt to capture the beauty he saw in his culture and country during a time of western colonization.

Man with Cockerel, painted in 1938, shows a rare deviation in Amorsolo’s oeuvre. This less idealistic painting stands apart from the typical Amorsolo painting in aspects of subject, composition, light, and color. Without the beautiful Filipina woman, the present work presents to be a glimpse into the quieter, more isolated aspects of rural life. Sitting restfully against a chicken coop, the aged farmer gently holds a bird, most likely his prized fighting cock, in his hands. Also unique to this painting is that the subjects are completely cast in a shadow. Amorsolo’s signature Philippine sunlight, usually casting a spotlight on the main figure, only illuminates the background in this painting. More noticeably, his characteristic bright colors are missing in this painting’s less saturated, earth tone dominated palette. The only exception is the red of the cockerel’s head.

Perhaps the touch of striking red amidst the painting’s muted colors is meant to focus attention at the cockerel. To the farmer, the cockerel is a source of simple joy and also a source of income outside of farming. Existing prior to colonialism, Sabong, or cockfighting, was and still is an activity engrained in Filipino culture, enjoyed by both rich and poor. To the common man, however, it is an opportunity for him to dream about winning the fight and one day escaping poverty. The farmer’s treasured possession; the cockerel is a symbol of hope.

Man with Cockerel is a rare example of when Amorsolo uses a muted color palette and subdued subject matter. Amorsolo’s love for his nation’s spirit and culture is still at this painting’s core. He also celebrates the farmer’s lifelong perseverance as an essential element of the Filipino soul and cockfighting as an inseparable part of the country's history. Whether Amorsolo’s subjects are young or old, his paintings always feature his people and culture in the way he wished it would stay.