Philippine Art History

A Quick Look at the Different Art Form

and Styles
 Learning Objectives:

1. compare forms of art forms from the different regions;

2. explain the Filipino artists’ roles and identity in their
contribution to contemporarry arts ; and
3. promote arts from the regions.
 PRE-COLONIAL ART PERIOD
(6185 BC TO 1520 AD)
●AGE OF HORTICULTURE/ NEOLITHIC PERIOD (6185 to 4,400 BC)
●METAL AGE (3190 to 190 BC)
●IRON AGE (200 BC TO 1000 BC)
Local communities are being established and art starts to
go beyond mere craft, i.e. stone weapons or jewelry but starts to have
decorative elements, meaning and context.
Old Stone Age (Paleolithic)
Espinosa Ranch Site, Cagayan
16000-8000 BC
The proof of earliest man’s presence was recovered from a ranch
site in Cagayan Province-two flake tools dated about .9 million
years, the oldest man-made object associated with the fossils of a
proboscidean, a prehistoric elephant. Other flake tools are
recovered in Tabon Caves, Palawan and some stone tools in
Bolobok Cave, Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-Tawi
 NOTABLE ART PIECES/ ART WORKS

Shell Bracelets and Pendants (Neolithic)

Cagayan, Palawan, and Sorsogon
4854 BC
Shells were fashioned into tools, as well as
ornaments. The oldest known ornaments made
from cone shells were found in the early 1960’s in
the grave of an adult male in Duyong Cave in
Palawan. A shell disk with a hole in the center was
found next to his right ear and a disk with a hole
by the edge was found on his chest. The shell
ornaments were dated 4854 B.C.

Agono Petroglyphs are oldest known work of art

in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal.
There are 127 human and animal figures
engraved on the rockwall probably carved during
the late Neolithic (3000 BC).
 IMPORTANT ART WORKS
Lingling-o (2000 BC – 1000 AD)
Duyong Cave, Palawan
-a kind of ear pendant fashioned from green
nephrite (jade) is the characteristic trait of the
Early Metal Age. One of the finest jade
ornaments found to date is the double- headed
pendant recovered from Duyong Cave,
Palawan. It is an example of the superb
craftsmanship of ancient carving in jade.

Manunggul Jar
Burial jar excavated from a Neolithic burial site
in Manunggul cave of Tabon Caves at Lipuun
Point at Palawan dating from 890–710 B.C.
Important Works
●Maitum Jar
(Metal Age: 190 BC to 500 AD)
In 1991, the National Museum
archaeological team
discovered anthropomorphic
secondary burial jars in Ayub
Cave, Barangay Pinol, The center graphic is a watercolor image from the
Maitum, Sarangani Province, Boxer Codex, published c. 1590. The rare publication
helped date and ID many pieces that were discovered
Mindanao, Philippines. in Surigao.

Surigao gold objects’ date-

stamp could be placed in the
span of the 10th to the 13th
centuries, A.D., pre-Hispanic
era
 Pre-Colonial Art Forms
●Pre-colonial traditional art have religious symbols, every day activity such
as fishing, farming, etc., or a specific decorative art pattern to the
community
●It has either the influence of local religion (animistic) or Islamic based
●There is also an exchange of art aesthetics and art processes with the
Chinese and other Asian countries who frequents as traders with our
indigenous groups.

Baybayin
a Tagalog ancient script also
known in Visayan as badlit, derived
from Brahmic scripts of India and
first recorded in the 16th century. It
continued to be used during the
Spanish colonization of the
Philippines up until the late 19th
century.
Other Pre-Colonial
Art
Pottery
Weaving
Tattoo
Jewelry
Carving
Metal Crafts
Unchanged Art Design still existing
The Okir (motif) is an artistic cultural
heritage of the Maranaos of Lanao,
Philippines.
It is as an artistic design of the Maranao
native inhabitants of southern
Philippines beginning from the early 6th
Century C.E. before the Islamization of
the area.
Okir is a design or pattern often
rendered or curved in hardwood, brass,
silver and wall painting in curvilinear
lines and Arabic geometric figures.
 Patterns of the Okir
In the book of Dr. Nagasura Madale, it explains
that the Okir has patterns which are used by the
Maranao artists.

1. Matilak (circle)
2. Poyok (bud)
3. Dapal (leaf)
4. Pako (fern or spiral form)
5. Todi (fern leaf with spiral at upper edge)
6. Pako lungat (fern leaf with a cut at one edge)
Maranao Okir Motif: Pako
Rabong
Another elements found Dr. Madale are: Naga,
obid-obid binotoon, kianoko, pakonai and tialitali.
Common Theme of the Okir
●Torogan known as the flower
symbol of the ancestral home of the
highest titleholder in a Maranao
village. The prominent part is
panolong, carved beam that
protrudes in the front of the house, it
symbolizes power and prestige.
●Nāga or serpent
●Sarimanok, a chicken-like figure
that carries a fish in its beak
 MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE OKIR
RENDERED IN AN ART WORK

Sarimanok and Fish

Abdulmari Asia Imao
National Artist for
Painting
Acrylic on
Canvas 24" x 24"
2011
Architecture
●B __ Z __ __ __ I __ __ A __ T

B Y Z A N T I N E A R T
● C __ __ I __ __ A __ T

C U B I S M A R T
F __ __ E S __ __
F R E S C O
 SPANISH COLONIAL ART PERIOD
(1521-1898)
●Introduced formal Painting, Sculpture and Architecture which was
inspired by the Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo art styles.
●Most artworks are Religious (Catholic) based
●Artworks bear the Philippine themed décor even with Spanish influence
 Spanish Art Aesthetics as Adopted by Filipino
Artist
Byzantine Painting Style: Filipino Interpretation:
Attributed to Maître à la Ratière, Esteban Villanueva, Basi Revolt,
Battle of Marignano, 1515 1821 (1 of 14 paintings)

Note of Haley’s Comet moving across the

sky
Spanish Art Aesthetics as Adopted by Filipino
Artist
Byzantine frescoes
11th–12th-century Church of Langit, Lupa at Impierno
Panayia Phorviotissa Cyprus. Josef Luciano Dans
ca. 1850

Byzantine art are artistic products of the

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, as
well as the nations and states that inherited
culturally from the empire. These are more
Christian based art.
Spanish Art Aesthetics as Adopted by Filipino
Artist
Filipino interpretation: Miagao
Baroque Aesthetics: Church also known as the Sto.
Cathedral Church of Saint Tomas de Villanueva Parish
Mary in Murcia, Spain Church Miagao, Iloilo,
Philippines

The Baroque is often thought of as a period of artistic style that used

exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama,
tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture,
literature, dance, theater, and music.
Spanish Art Aesthetics as Adopted by Filipino
Artist
Rococo Aesthetics Gothic Aesthetics

Rococo Art originated in early 18th Gothic Art is the style of art produced in
century Paris, is characterized by Northern Europe from the middle ages up
whimsical, curvy lines and elaborate until the beginning of the Renaissance.
decorative style of art, whose name Typically rooted in religious devotion, it is
derives from the French word especially known for the distinctive
'rocaille' meaning, rock-work after arched design of its churches, its stained
the forms of sea shells. glass, and its illuminated manuscripts.
Spanish Colonialism Lives On with the Filipino
“Antique” Furniture and Carving Designs

Baroque inspired
wood carvings of
table and relief statue
made by Juan Flores,
Father of Pampanga
Sculpture and
Woodcarving
Photo credit: leahdeleon.com
Uprising of the Philippine Artist
●In the formation of the elite Filipino class, the Ilustrado, paved way
for the rich locals to study abroad, a more “academic” and “western”
approach has been learned.
●The Filipino Classicism is formed that borrows the Neo-Classicism,
Romanticism and even a hint of Impressionism
Damian Domingo:
The Father of Filipino Painting

●First Filipino to paint his face, the first Self-

Portrait in the Philippines
●Founder of the Academia de Dibujo y
Pintura, the first school of drawing in the
Philippines (1821)
●One of the known artists of the decorative
art illustrations tipos del pais watercolor
paintings that depict local costumes. It
also became an album of different native
costumes.
Juan Luna y Novicio:First of Two
Internationally Renowned Artist
●Juan Luna y Novicio was a
Filipino painter, sculptor and a
political activist of the Philippine
Revolution during the late 19th
century.
●His Spoliarium won the gold
medal in the 1884 Madrid
Exposition of Fine Arts
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
• One of the greatest Filipino
painters along with fellow
painter Juan Luna in the 19th
century

• His work has a touch of

Romanticism and aesthetics
of the Neoclassicism
Two Filipino Art Styles developed during
the Spanish Period
●Miniaturismo art style that pays
attention to the embroidery and
texture of the costume.

●Letras y Figuras art style that

fuses letters with figures in every
day activity amidst a common
background. Usually used in
painting a patron’s full name.
 Watawat ng Pilipinas
Fernando Amorsolo

American Colonial Art Period

(1898-1946)
The Filipino artist starts looking for His Identity
American Colonial Art Period (1898-1946)
●The American brought in Education and
Value Formation, with both following the
“American way of life” (Alice Guillermo,
Sining Biswal, 1994, p. 4)

●A r t Illustration, Advertising and

Commercial Design gained popularity
and incorporated in Fine Arts.

●Painting themes still largely favored

Genre Paintings, Landscapes and Still
Life; Portraits are reserved for high
ranking officials with a more academic
approach to make the subject more
formal.
Popular Art Styles during the Philippine
Colonial American Period

Neoclassicism in
Architecture
The White House

Neoclassicism
in Philippine
Architecture
Popular Art Styles during the Philippine
Colonial American Period
Art Deco in Architecture
Chrysler Building Art Deco in Philippine
Architecture
Metropolitan Theater
METAmorphosis the Rebirth of the Metropolitan
Theater
Popular Art Styles during the Philippine Colonial
American Period

Art Nouveau in Architecture

Old England building built in Art
Nouveau style.
Musée des instruments de
musique - Bruxelles

Art Nouveau in
Philippine
Architecture
Uy-Chaco Building
 ART DECO
ART NOUVEAU also called style moderne, movement in the
a style of decorative art, architecture, decorative arts and architecture that originated in
and design prominent in western the 1920s and developed into a major style in
Europe and the US from about 1890 western Europe and the United States during the
until World War I and characterized by 1930s. It characterized by simple, clean shapes,
intricate linear designs and flowing often with a “streamlined” look; ornament that is
curves based on natural forms. geometric or stylized from representational forms;
and unusually varied, often expensive materials
Commercial Art (Graphic Arts)
 Notable Artist:
Fabian dela Rosa
●the brightest name in Philippine
painting after Luna and certainly
the leading Master of Genre in
the first quarter of the century.
●His nephews are artist, Pablo
and Fernando Amorsolo.
Notable Artist:
Fernando Amorsolo
●a portraitist and painter of rural landscapes.
He is best known for his craftsmanship and
mastery in the use of light.
●His art styles: Impressionism, Luminism,
Realism with subjects inspired by Philippine
genre and historical, nudes and society
portraits
●First awardee of the National Artist Award
in 1972
Guillermo Tolentino
●the National Artist Awards for
Sculpture in 1973.
●He is consider as the "Father of
Philippine Arts" because of his
great works like the famous
"Bonifacio Monument"
symbolizing Filipinos cry for
freedom and "The Oblation" in
UP signifying academic
freedom.
 Emergence of Philippine Pre-Modern Art:
Triumvirate of Philippine Modern Art
●Victorio Edades
●Carlos “Botong” Francisco
●Galo B. Ocampo
Introduced the Modern Art
styles such as pop art, maximalism,
minimalism, abstraction,
expressionism, constructivism,
magic realism, and environmental
art before the World War II
 The Legend of the Thirteen Modern
Victorio Edades Carlos Francisco Galo B. Ocampo
Hernando R. Ocampo Cesar Legaspi
Diosdado Lorenzo
Vicente Manansala Anita Magsaysay-Ho Demetrio Diego

Ricarte Purugunan Bonifacio Cristobal Arsenio Capili

Jose Prado
 Maria Makiling
Botong
Francisco

POST-COLONIAL ART
(1946-1986)
Art After the War: The Growing and Expanding Philippine Art
POSTCOLONIAL PERIOD (1946-1986)
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1986 to PRESENT)
●Philippine Modern Art (1946 – 1970)

The study of determining what is Philippine Contemporary Art

Period is still being determined since the word has been used loosely
used even during the American Colonial Period. However, some
Philippine art historians/critics has always been a follower of the
Western Art Style and its trends at that point and thus, suggested that
this was actually the point where Philippine Modern Art Period started
but went only full swing only after the war. This is set by the creation of
the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) that in a way has a strong
leaning with the Modernist than the Conservatives (the traditional art
also termed as the Amorsolo School)
POSTCOLONIAL PERIOD (1946-1986)
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1986 to PRESENT)
●Philippine Post Modern Art (1970 – 1980s)

The support of the Philippine Government for the arts via the
creation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines during 1969, gave a
venue for all artist to experiment and explore different art medium tying
closely to the Post Modern Art Period of the West with Pop Art,
Installation Art, Performance Art, dominating the scene. In contrast,
social realism became a heavy theme by most Filipino Artist as a social
commentary of the problem brewing in the Philippine political and social
landscape.
POSTCOLONIAL PERIOD (1946-1986)
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1986 to PRESENT)
●Philippine Contemporary Art (1980s to Present)

It was on the on-set of the sudden rise of personal computers

and new technology created a new art medium for the arts and human
expression. But there were also countless revivals of old styles being
done. This started a new direction for the arts thus, setting the name,
momentarily, the Philippine Contemporary Period
MODERN ART AESTHETICS

Modern art is characterized by the artist's intent to

portray a subject as it exists in the world,
according to his or her unique perspective and is
typified by a rejection of accepted or traditional
styles and values.
POST MODERN ART AESTHETICS
●Postmodern art is a body of art movements that
sought to contradict some aspects of modernism or
some aspects that emerged or developed in its aftermath.
●In general, movements such as intermedia,
installation art, conceptual art and multimedia,
particularly involving video are described as postmodern.
Contemporary Art Characteristics
●Contemporary art as the work of artists
who are living in the 21st century.
●Contemporary art mirrors contemporary
culture and society, offering the general
audiences a rich resource through which
to consider current ideas and rethink the
familiar.
●The work of contemporary artists is a
dynamic combination of materials,
methods, concepts, and subjects that
challenges traditional boundaries and
defies easy definition. "Our Terms"
● Diverse and eclectic, contemporary art 2003, installation dimensions
is distinguished by the very lack of a variable.
uniform organizing principle, ideology, or Picture credit: Imelda Cajipe
-ism.
Endaya
Contemporary Art Characteristics
● In a globally influenced, culturally
diverse, and technologically
advancing world, contemporary
artists give voice to the varied and
changing cultural landscape of
identity, values, and beliefs.

● Contemporary audiences play an

active role in the process of
constructing meaning about
works of art. Some artists often Lord of the Flies #3
say that the viewer contributes to 3D Printing, Plastic Toys, and
or even completes the artwork by Paint
20.5 cm x 23 cm x 14 cm
contributing his or her personal
Felix Bacolor
reflections, experiences, opinions,