Its title- Sunset: Return of the Fishermen describes this work of art quite literally. The sun is going down and the it's time to call it a day. A large palm tree sways slightly on the far left of the canvas, with one branch of leaves browning from the dry heat. A small boat is docking by the shore and I see three figures of fishermen, although one figure has a skirt on. They are bringing in the days catch and are bathed in the orange amber glow that the horizon behind them gives off. The horizon in the far distance is a spectacular sunset, the ones that take your breath away. There is a shadow of a mountain that is hazily covered by a faint mist. The reflection of the clouds on the water is equally as majestic and the faint ripple of the water tells me it's been a rather calm and usual day. There are nipa huts to the right of the frame that are also reflected in the water and another boat that is unoccupied that is just beached by the shore. The earth that covers the bottom half of the painting is not what one usually expects which are white sandy beaches. It is muddy and damp, which is what soil really feels like. The reflection of the clouds and intense horizon on the water’s surface gives a sense of calmness and serenity.


Looking at Amorsolo's sunset for the first time is a visually delightful and serene experience. It makes me feel that going back to nature and to simplicity which is really what God has intended for us. When one sees a landscape that takes their breath away, it makes me wonder how people are atheists. Bold statement perhaps, but it is because of sunsets such as these that make me believe in a higher power, a higher being…

Many elements of art are depicted in this work of Amorsolo’s. Line is used by the strokes of grass on the edge of the bottom left of the canvas and are complemented by the lines of the vertical coconut tree ( it is not a palm tree but a coconut tree, and I know this because of where this landscape takes place; more on this later) and these vertical lines are then repeated in the distance by the bamboo poles that are sticking out in the distance to the right of the canvas, by the nipa huts ( native Filipino houses made of straw). The overall shapes in the painting, such as the sunset, mist covered mountain in the background and the luminous airy clouds are all organic. The mountain has an implied depth and all we see is the outline of the shape in the distance. The three figures are not as defined which makes me believe that the main focal point of the painting is the sunset and its equally as stunning, if not more, reflection on the water. As mentioned earlier, time is defined as end of the day, a long and relaxed day out on the boat catching fish to feed the family. Light is masterfully used with the colors of the sunsets orange, yellow-red like quality. The Tone is warm and bright, but airy and serene. The rich colors of the sky and its voluminous clouds are used skillfully when blended with the surface of the water. The waters colors are a dark green on the edge of the shore, which lets me see the row of coconut trees it is reflecting, which is not painted but can be perceived as lining the shoreline. The rich greens of the grass and leaves have a faint touch of yellow as well, an effect of the glowing amber light that the sunset is emitting. The browns are also repeated, with a variety of shades from the soil to the fisherman’s boat to the nipa hut in the distance. The white clouds also are highlighted by the suns rays and can be seen through the light that it captures, which is also present in the reflection on the water. The mountain that looks blue gray is a color that stands out and makes me locate the focal point above it. The balance of the painting is achieved by the reflection of colors on the calm surface of the ocean. The greens and browns of the coconut tree, grass and reflection on the edge of the shore is a great contrast to the intense orange, yellow reds of the horizon. These elements of art and principles of design make me see the same qualities of that of an impressionist painting such as a Monet or Renoir. Light is captured by the ocean, waves and clouds in a harmonious way, which is repeated in the reflection of on the surface of the water.

This painting is a view of the Manila Bay, said to be a place to view spectacular sunsets such as these and Mount Samat was the mountain in the far distance, according to the artist from the Islands of the Philippines. The artist, Fernando Cuerto Amorsolo painted this in 1939 right before World War II, and this year is said to be the highlight of his painting career. The painter was born into a family of artists and was also named in 1972, the National Artist of the Philippines by then President Marcos, four days after his death at 79 years of age. He was schooled in Liceo de Manila Art School but was sent by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, his patron, who took a special interest in his talent, to study art in Madrid. Ayala was also an artist and a wealthy and powerful philanthropist (Ocampo).

Amorsolo, during his early years sold watercolor postcards for 10 centavos. He was a professor at the University of the Philippines from 1938- 1952 and became famous for painting pastoral images to sell to tourists. This was painted pre-World War II and was done mainly for American soldiers who were patrolling the country at the time. Amorsolo depicted the Islands of the Philippines as a place of calm stability where one could live a simple way of life.

In 1939, the year this was painted was a great time for the Philippines. The country had been through several dictatorships, firstly by the Spaniards and then the Americans but gained independence as a nation just 3 years earlier in 1935. For the first time in their history, they had rights- right to vote and be they’re own leaders even though they were still heralded as the Commonwealth of the Philippines. America’s presence was still very much felt with American soldiers patrolling and several large U.S naval bases in operation. This was also a time the Americans were expanding their globalization to various other countries. It is significant to understand the state of affairs during the time this was painted because it leaves us with what Amorsolo was trying to say to the rest of the world—Here are the Islands of the Philippines, a haven and a paradise where life was simple but none the less breathtakingly beautiful. Manila Bay, the exact location of the painting holds much history to the Philippines as this is where the battle of the Spanish –American War took place, a far cry from the scene depicted in Amorsolo’s art work. Two years after this painting was done, all hell broke lose when World War II was declared with the invasion of the Japanese in the Philippines. During and soon after the war, it was a time of great strife for the Filipino’s and not for a long time would that life of simplistic utopia be felt (Weir).

Today, Fishermen in the Philippines are using illegal ways to fish by using dynamite and cyanide to lure the fish to the surface, which is ecologically dangerous by destroying their habitat (GMA7). There are still many views such as these but they are amidst the hustle and bustle of a polluted metropolis with straw huts gone as a thing of the past being replaced by cardboard homes for the impoverished squatters.

The painting is an ideal representation of what life can be, in an ideal and untouched remote island somewhere in the Philippines. Unfortunately, with the advancement of technology and building infrastructure, this idea the artist imparts is only available to experience in works of art such as these. Amorsolo was said to have only painted one rainy day in his career and it is apparent why. His skill for the use of light and color gives me a warm glow of contentment on the inside. And if my pocket was heavy enough, I could actually experience this masterpiece for a mere $65,000 since it is available for sale!



Works Cited

GMA7. Quezon fisherman loses arm dynamite-fishing. Television News. Manila, Philippines: GMA Channel 7, September 2, 2008.

Ocampo, Ambeth. "Amorsolos brush with history." Lopez Museum. 19 October 2008 .

Weir, Frasier. "A Centennial History of Philippine Independence : 1898- 1998." University of Alberta, CA. 21 October 2008 .