Fernando Amorsolo (1892–1972) achieved widespread acclaim both at home and abroad during his lifetime. At the peak of his artistic career, he exhibited extensively, both in the Philippines and internationally, including in New York, Rome, and Brussels. He also earned the moniker “The Grand Old Man of Philippine Art”.

Amorsolo’s career unfolded during a period of major change in the Philippines. The island state, which had previously been a Spanish colony, transitioned to American governance in 1898. He pursued the lifestyle familiar from his rural childhood, as yet untouched by the influence of American culture. While Amorsolo drew inspiration from the art of the Western world, the Philippine landscape, traditional culture, customs and trades remained his primary focus. He painted bright, pastoral and sun-drenched vignettes of everyday life in the Philippine countryside, such as peasants harvesting rice, cooking, picking mangoes, doing the laundry in the river, at festive gatherings and at markets. Amorsolo also focused on Philippine beauty ideals, developing an archetype known as the “dalagang Filipina” – a woman embodying his vision of quintessential Filipino beauty, which appeared in many of his works.

Fernando Amorsolo spent his early years in rural Daet. Following the death of his father, he relocated with his family to Manila, where they lived with his uncle Fabián de la Rosa (1869–1937), a respected artist in his own right. At the age of 13, Amorsolo began his artistic training as an apprentice under his uncle’s guidance. He furthered his education at The Art School of the Liceo de Manila before gaining admission to the University of the Philippines’ School of Fine Arts, from which he graduated with distinction. 

Amorsolo also painted portraits and self-portraits, as well as wartime paintings during World War II. Having gained independence in 1946, following World War II, the nation sought to forge its own cultural identity. Amorsolo’s works, viewed as quintessentially Philippine, played a crucial role in this process. His paintings have since been widely reproduced in textbooks, magazines, newspapers, tourist brochures and advertisements. Amorsolo garnered numerous accolades and awards, among them the Gold Medal of Recognition from the UNESCO National Commission. Shortly after his death in 1972, Amorsolo became the first ever recipient of the National Artist of the Philippines award, an honour bestowed upon him posthumously.