Pencil on paper

Pastoral pencil on paper sketch by a celebrated Filipino artist, Jose V. Blanco. The drawing depicts Filipino women and children sorting out mangoes in weaved baskets. This depicts the simple way of life in rural areas in the Philippines where most crops are grown and harvested. Matted and framed in a golden bamboo carved frame. Signed and dated by the artist.

Born on March 19, 1932, his family belonged to a group of fisherman in Laguna de Bay. As a young man, Jose “Pitok” Blanco studied in University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1951 to pursue his passion in art. He graduated in 1955 and worked as an advertising director for several years. In 1971, he abandoned advertising in order to pursue painting as his professional work and gained as a full-time artist. It was also the same year when he got his first one-man show at the Manila Hilton. Blanco became known for his murals about the Angono life. The Rockefeller Foundation of New York obtained his "Pag-ahon ng Pagoda," a depiction of the fluvial parade in connection with the San Clemente fiesta, in the 1970s. The most famous work which Blanco paint is the "Angono Town Fiesta," a giant canvas showing more than 100 figures at various states of delight and celebration during the feast of San Clemente, Angono's patron saint. All of the figures are based on real life that represent Blanco's town mates. Even Blanco himself appear in the painting. Beside of his positive works, he can also paint dark subjects. Like “The Burning of Angono” shows the memory of the Japanese occupation, when the people of Angono watch their town burns. Blanco fame was not only in the Angono and Philippines. He and his family were invited to Xiamen, China to exhibit there. Art critic Allice Guillermo called Blanco's style "folk realism." Notable for the graphic perspective of the work as well as earthy colors. His seven children continued the folk art tradition and even his wife, Loreto “Loring” Blanco, has started to paint and become part of the "Blanco Family of Artists." Perhaps the most notable work of the family is the "Risen Christ," a rich Eastern mural that hangs at the Holy Cross Parish in Valenzuela. Blanco called by his folkname "Pitok Bunggan" in Angono, a part of long line folk artists. In 1978, the Blanco’s family has their first painting exhibition in National Museum and carried the inverted fish locally called “Bunggan”, which eventually became the Blanco family logo. The Blanco family has their own museum called "Blanco Family Museum" located in Angono, Rizal. He died in August 14, 2008 at the age of 76 due to his heart failure.

H 11.88 in. x W 21.63 in. x D .75 in.

H 6 in. x W 16 in.