The Builders by Victorio Edades

The painting “The Builders” oil on canvas by Victorio Edades is considered as an influential piece which mark the beginning of modernism of the Filipino Art during the early 20th century. To bring forward the essence of the painting and the human figures which successfully depicts the hard labor of the people, Edades’ used a structural and linear composition. The canvas is approximately 1,050 x 3,670 cm in size, horizontal in composition, composed of semi-circle of bodies in the center and the ridges of the canvas. The canvas did not reveal any specific setting and the individuals did not have any facial features. The canvas revealed the human figures that fits in small space and proportion that shows distortion as the design and representational in style but not realist. At the top of the painting is a row of men pulling on a rope while at the center to the bottom showed a group of men where each have trouble carrying a huge-sized stone.  The painter used muddy earth colors, bold contours and brushwork which produce a rough texture with almost no negative space left on the canvas. Victorio Edades was the leader of the Thirteen Moderns and among his painting “The Builders” which is his first step in his campaign for modernism, was to hold a one-man show at the Philippine Columbian Club in Ermita, Manila in 1928.

Victorio Edades' groundbreaking painting "The Builders," created in 1928, is a key piece in the history of Philippine modernism because it is more than just a representation of workers erecting a building; it makes a profound statement about the socio-cultural environment of the time and represents a radical break from the country's traditional artistic traditions. “The Builders" by Edades is a spectacular display of realism. The work of construction workers engaged in the arduous task of erecting a structure is painstakingly captured by the artist. When Filipino art predominately featured idyllic rural scenes or religious subjects, this singular focus on the working class was revolutionary. By presenting the laborers in their plain setting, Edades gives voice to a part of society frequently disregarded by art. Besides the title itself, the painting also has lots of symbols that detail a specific meaning that is interconnected with its title, giving it a more understandable and clear meaning. Elements such as tools and different objects that represent construction convey the theme of the painting of labor and construction.

The artwork offers a moving societal allegory. It highlights the importance of the working class in the growth of the country and honors the dignity of labor. The laborers' strong, lean bodies radiate resiliency and strength as a representation of their unshakable dedication to developing the country, both literally by building infrastructure and figuratively by creating a sense of national identity. "The Builders" focuses on the workers and their efforts in particular, but it also serves as a compelling metaphor of nation-building. The construction site might be seen as a symbol of the Philippines' collaborative effort to forge its identity and advance as a country amid a time of political and social change. Edades cleared the path for a new generation of Filipino artists to explore cutting-edge artistic expressions with his bold departure from conventional techniques and his uncompromising dedication to realism. This artwork continues to stand as a pillar of Philippine modernist art and a source of creativity for modern painters. 

In the final analysis, Victorio Edades' "The Builders" is more than just a piece of art; it also makes a significant statement about the value of labor, the importance of the working class, and the ethos of nation-building. This painting stands as a timeless testament to Filipino tenacity and the lasting legacy of modernism in Filipino art because to Edades' mastery of realism and his perceptive social commentary. Within the rich fabric of the Philippines' artistic past, it continues to be a source of inspiration and pride. 

The painting "The Builders" employs structural and linear composition to convey the substance of the painting, and the human bodies in the paintings successfully reflect the men's hard labor. It also links to the viewers' own emotions, shortcomings, and traumas, and turns them to face their current society. This work of art returned the audience to the ground, back into their bodies, allowing them to properly enjoy his work without losing sight of their own thoughts and feelings. The Builders exemplified the dark side of progress and industrialization, which would be built on the backs of anonymous men who will never receive gratification, let alone see or enter the palaces they build, because they are simply abandoned in the dark with no recognition for their efforts. Edades saw this sharp reality and thus painted it. His brush strokes on the contours of the elements are heavy and massive, bringing more anguish and load to the canvas where he pictured out what the builders have sacrificed, even placing themselves in danger and having difficulty just building other people's places. When examined closely, the rough texture appears to be wounds on the verge of bursting. It was a morbid scene. This artwork demonstrates that even if you have others around you, at the end of the day, you are on your own in your work, as opposed to Bayanihan settings represented by other painters, when everyone was familiar with each other and respected each other's value in the tradition. You must work harder for your own sake since you cannot rely on others because they, too, have duties in life. In addition, the art piece is a vision of despair and exclusion, which would later become concepts in an array of modernist works by other artists. Edades' movement in the Philippines defied the idea of beauty in the Greek sense and presented an alternative perspective on the world as it is now. The Builders reconnect viewers with their own emotions, imperfections and bruises, and turn them to face their current society. This work of art brought the audience to the ground, back into their bodies, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in his work without losing sight of their own thoughts and feelings.