Superstition
Cesar Legaspi
Oil on Canvass, 1982
Blending realism with abstraction, Legaspi uses bold colors and dynamic brushstrokes to depict symbolic figures and dramatic compositions that convey the tension and mystique of these superstitions. This work highlights Legaspi’s technical skill and his ability to address social themes, offering a visual commentary on the pervasive influence of superstitions in Filipino society.
Cesar T. Legaspi, born on April 2, 1917, in Tondo, Manila, began his art training at the University of the Philippines, earning a Certificate of Proficiency in 1936. He studied under Pablo C. Amorsolo and exhibited with neo-realists in 1950. In 1953, he went to Madrid on a scholarship and trained at the Academie Ranson in Paris. Returning to the Philippines, he held his first solo exhibition in 1963. While developing his art, he worked at Elizalde & Company as an art director and vice president at Philprom advertising agency. He retired from advertising in 1968 to become a full-time painter.
Cesar T. Legaspi was a key figure in the Thirteen Moderns, pioneers of modern art in the Philippines, formed before World War II and led by National Artist Victorio C. Edades. After the war, Legaspi became a core member of the Neo-realist movement, which created works featuring Philippine themes with a representational style open to abstraction.
Despite suffering from color blindness, Cesar T. Legaspi pursued his passion for art and made significant contributions to Philippine art.
He was honored as a National Artist for Visual Arts in 1990, four years before his death on April 7, 1994.
Reference:
National Museum of the Philippines