MESINA, CYRIL SP.

ART APP
BSGE -3A QUIZ 1
Have a closer look at the painting posted. You have to critique the work based on the following
questions. Answer the following questions (fill out HERE):

Madonna of the Slums by Vicente Manansala

1. Formal qualities: We can observe that the line was used to create an illusion of depth.
Simply enumerate the The form was also seen and was used to give the objects a 3-dimensional
elements that you see: characteristic (height, length and width) making it realistic as possible.
the quality of lines, Moreover, by using dark and dulled colors, we can tell that it was
shapes, colors. smartly chosen considering its appropriateness to the theme or the
message it coveys. The artist was also vigilant in giving the colors proper
and dead-on value and intensity to give even more emphasis to things
that needs to be highlighted. And in as much as the technique of the
artist we can say that shape was used and presented incontrovertibly
clear. Being said this, we can tell that the artwork give out a sense unity
making it more pleasing and appealing to the eye.
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BSGE -3A QUIZ 1
2. Subject matter: As defined in the module, representational means it mimics what is real
What is the artist tackling or what can be seen, therefore in my opinion, the painting (Madonna of
about? Can you see any the Slums) is an example of a representational art form. Because, by just
representational forms? If merely having a glance at the painting we can already grasps the general
none, what do you think is idea as to what it is about. Manansala highlighted the melancholic facial
the main subject matter? expression of both the mother and child corroborated by the usual
scene in the slums, which is extreme poverty. His style might be too
straight forward and simple yet it conveys a strong and ardent message.

3. Composition: Looking at the artwork, the most prominent would probably be the
Consider the arrangement subject of the painting which is the mother and son. Considering that it
of objects, people, or is the foreground or the part that is nearest to the observer therefore I
elements. What is most presume that it is what the artist wanted to highlight and wanted to use
prominent? Who or what as a symbol to convey his message to his audience. The middle ground
is on the foreground, would probably be the houses showing the usual day-to-day way of
middle ground, and living of families in the slums, which are poor and severely unhealthy.
background? Lastly, the background would probably be the clouds at the top as it is
the furthest part of the painting from the point of view of the observer.

4. Technique: Manansala’s used of transparent cubism technique gives even more

5. Content: After having a thorough examination of the parts of the artwork, the first
What do you think the thing that comes to my mind is the word poverty. The painting shows
artwork is all about after how difficult it is to live in the slums. It made me realize that the real
carefully examining its situation is not even near of what I imagine it to be. What we see is just
parts? What story, what a peak of how poor and unhealthy the life of those people living in the
message, and what slums to the point that seeing a malnourished children and elderly,
argument is the artist likewise having a meal just once a day is enough and just a normal thing
trying to tell? for them. Moreover, I believe that the artist also want to relay with his
artwork the unconditional love of a mother (parent) to her child that
even poverty can’t break. Even though it’s hard a parent would do
anything just to provide for his/her family.

6. Analysis: Madonna of the slums was created by Vicente Manansala in 1950 using
Further dig into the the cubism style. He painted his Madonna of the Slums to portray a
artist’s intention in terms mother and child from the countryside who become an urban shanty in
of the relationship of each the city who then experienced the poverty in postwar manila. In fact,
part to the whole. Keep almost all of his artwork during this time was inspired from the usual
asking why, and try to scenes in the streets of manila after the war.
answer them based on (https://www.wikiart.org/en/vicente-manansala/madonna-of-the-slums-
visual clues. Research 1950)
further if needed, The cubist aspect of his artwork involves geometric faceting of forms
MESINA, CYRIL SP. ART APP
BSGE -3A QUIZ 1
especially if there is and in the shifting and overlapping of the planes. As Manansala drew
historical connection. and paint his themes from the familiar Filipino environment he
reinterpreted and indigenized the cubism style and make it to his own
technique and style which then he called transparent cubism. In this
particular artwork, he used color in all its folk vibrancy, sensuous appeal
and evocative power. Whereas, in composition his works often feature
lines of perspective with receding space which are usually shallow. But,
recessions in depth is simultaneously defined by lines and planes which
create spatial ambiguities making it appear realistic and pleasing to the
eye. (https://www.geringerart.com/artists/vicente-manansala/)

7. Your own criticism In my opinion, Vicente Manansala was a smart artist considering how he
about the work: used the elements coherently and integrated all of it without sacrificing
Provide a coherent and or damaging the overall appearance of the artwork. Seeing how clearly
convincing judgement the message was conveyed and imparted we can tell that the elements
about the work. are well used to the point that we can clearly observed the
cohesiveness, completeness and unity of the elements as a whole.