The Fiesta of Angono 1960

Botong Francisco captured this bustling scene with a lively palette of reds, whites and browns—I can almost feel the energy of the fiesta jumping off the canvas! Imagine the artist, maybe sweating a bit, moving back and forth, trying to capture the feeling of the fiesta, the food stalls, the music, and the church looming in the background. His hand probably moving quickly, building up layers, trying to get it all in. I can relate! There’s a certain generosity in how the details are handled—the figures are full of life and there's a real sense of movement throughout, created by the direction of the brushstrokes. I mean, look at that red awning! Francisco’s not just showing us a fiesta, he’s inviting us to join in, and that’s what painting should do, right? It’s an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring our own crazy creativity.