Cesar Buenaventura, Untitled (Barrio Scene), 1977

Oil on canvas
22 x 30 cm (visible), 32 x 40 x 2 cm (framed)
Condition: Good, with minor accretions and dirt on the paint surface, consistent with the age of the work.

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Cesar Buenaventura (Filipino, 1922-1983) was the son of the celebrated Filipino painter, Teodoro Buenaventura (Filipino, 1863-1950). His father initially forbade him from studying art in school but eventually trained him and allowed him to become a pupil of the famed Fernando Amorsolo (Filipino, 1892-1972) - the first-ever to be recognised as a National Artist of the Philippines.

Buenaventura's work very brightly depicted the landscapes and the people of the Philippines. Farmers and fishermen were often the subject of his paintings as he focused on quiet scenes of everyday domestic and agrarian life. Through his art, he endowed upon the subjects of his work a deep sense of respect and empathy, celebrating their labour.

(Photographed in February 2025)