American Colonial Period (1898 - 1940) to the Postwar Republic (1946 – 1969)

Major Art Movements

Bound by the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the Spain “Surrendered” the Philippines to the United
States. From 1899 – 1913, the bloody Philippine-American war occurred, claiming the lives of many
Filipinos. Beginning with the institution of government and education systems, the new colonial
government took charge of initiating the natives into the American way of life, creating a long-term
influence on Filipino culture.

Changes Brought by American Colonization

The Filipino playwrights were confronted by the Issuance of the Sedition Law, implemented by the
Americans, which banned the writing, printing, and publication of materials advocating Philippine
Independence.

• Juan Abad’s Tanikalang Ginto (1902)

• Juan Matapang Cruz’s Hindi ako patay (1903)
• Aurelio Tolentino’s Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903)

These are the plays that served as a medium for political protest, openly attacking the Americans. It is
known as Drama Simbolico.

In less than a decade, Filipino playwrights began to write plays in English. Lino Castillejo and Jesus
Araullo authored “A Modern Filipina”, the first Filipino play written in English.

There was another form of theatre which the Americans introduced, Vaudeville, which originated from
france. It became popular in the Philippines during the 1920s. Locally, it is known as Bodebil. It is a
collection of different stage performances such as songs, dances, comedy skits, chorus girls, magic acts.

20th Century

Architect Daniel Burnham was commissioned by the American government to design Manila and
Baguio, while Architect William Parsons implemented the Burnham Plan.

Neoclassic Architecture - is characterized by grandeur of scale, simplicity of geometric forms, or Roman

detail, dramatic use of columns, and a preference for blank walls.

Filipino Architects who designed Filipino buildings who have received training in US and Europe:

• Daniel Burnham
• William Parsons
• Tomas Mapua
• Juan Arellano
• Andres Luna De San Pedro
• Antonio Toledo
The demand for artists who could do illustrations in textbooks or graphic designs for product labels thus
emerged.

1909 – The School of Fine arts in University of the Philippines was opened.

Fabian Dela Rosa, known for his naturalist paintings characterized by restraint and formality in brush
work, choice of somber colors and subject matter. As seen in the works:

➢ Planting Rice, 1921

➢ El Kundiman, 1930

Fernando Amorsolo, known for his romantic paintings that captured the warm glow of the Philippine
sunlight. He had produced numerous portraits of prominent individuals, genre scenes highlighting the
beauty of the dalagang Filipina, idyllic landscapes; and historical paintings. He was declared as National
artist in 1972

➢ The logo of Ginebra San Miguel

➢ Graphic artist of the Philippine Readers

Guillermo Tolentino, known as Amorsolo’s counterpart in sculpture. He studied fine arts in rome and
was influenced by its classical tradition. He was proclaimed National Artist in1973.

➢ Oblation, 1935
➢ Bonifacio Monument, 1933

Victorio Edades, studied in United States, where its modern art profoundly influenced him.

➢ The Builders, 1928

ACADEMIC ART

Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco, known for his Murals.

➢ Filipino struggles through history, 1964

Galo Ocampo, recognized for indigenizing western icons

➢ Brown Madonna, 1938

Art Noveau - is characterized by its use of a long, sinuous, organic line and was employed most often
in architecture, interior design, jewelry and glass design, posters, and illustration.

Art Deco- is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World
War I. An example of Art Deco architecture is Juan Arello’s Metropolitan Theatre in 1935.

A collaborative work by Edades, Francisco and Ocampo is Nature’s Bounty, 1935.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1941 – 1945)

KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod ng Bagong Pilipinas) sponsored art competitions.

The Japanese forces led the formation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which is a
propaganda movement that sought to create a Pan-Asian identity that rejected western traditions. The
slogans “Asia for Asians” made its way to the public through different Japanese publications such as
Shin-Seiki, newspapers and magazines such as Liwayway and Tribune.

Expression which is subversive or anti-Japanese led to torturous consequences, even death.

The Japanese Information Bureau or Hodobu employed local artists. In the field of music, the composer
Felipe P. de Leon was said to have been commanded at the point of gun to write the Awit sa paglikha
ng bagong pilipinas, which is the anthem during the period.

Even though the publication of art back then was strictly policed during World War II, still, most of the
Amorsolo’s paintings did not showed any indication of war’s atrocities. Some of his example works are
the Harvest scene and the Rice Planting in 1942, which showed semblance of peace. On the other hand,
the hit song Sa Kabukiran, composed by Levi Celerio and performed by Sylvia La Torre, served as the
escape from the troubles of war.

Some scenes from the war were also made, focusing on the aesthetic ruin and disaster. Such as
Amorsolo’s Bombing of the Intendencia (1942) and Ruins of the Manila Cathedral (1945), Diosdado
Lorenzo’s Atrocities in Paco (1945), and Dominador Castaneda’s Doomed Family (1945).

NEO-REALISM, ABSTRACTION AND OTHER MODERN ART STYLES

Neo-realism was the movement named by E. Aguilar Cruz. Manansala, Legaspi and HR Ocampo were
among the national artist associated with neo-realism. The group of artists explored folk themes and
also crafted commentaries on the urban condition and the effects of war.

Vicente Manansala

➢ The Beggars, 1952

➢ Tuba Drinkers, 1954

Cesar Legaspi

➢ Gadgets II, 1949

➢ Bar Girls, 1947

HR Ocampo

➢ The Contrast, 1940

➢ Genesis, 1968
Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), established in 1948, one of its initiative is to sponsor contests
to encourage art production.

Philippine Art Gallery (PAG), provided the venue and laid out early programs for modern art.

Constructions of modern architectural structures were particularly observed in churches:

➢ Church of the Holy Sacrifice, 1955

➢ Church of the Risen Lord
➢ Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker in Victorias, Negros (It features a striking mural of Christ by Fil-
Am artist Alfonso Ossorio, knowned as the Angry Christ)

ABSTRACTION – consists of simplified forms, which avoided the exact representation.

➢ Street Musicians, 1952, Arturo Luz

➢ Cargadores, 1951, Nena Saguil