Sent by Arlene, who blogs over I Love Postcrossing, this postcard features the beautiful oil painting of the Philippine countryside, an obra by one of the Philippines' National Artists, Fernando Amorsolo. It conjures nostalgia, of a long-gone era in my country.

Below, the postcard illustrates the rice harvest season generations ago, with one woman on a break to nurse her baby. Harvesting rice in the Philippines, as in many Asian countries that grow rice, is a happy occasion. Villagers come to offer a helping hand and, after a day's work, a feast is prepared. There were games for kids, music and dances, traditional, of course. There were no electric violin or guitars yet in those times.

Postcard shows one of the oil paintings done by Fernando Amorsolo. His works depict his love for the Philippine rural landscape and farmers/labourers.

As he was developing his skills early on in his life, his mother did embroidery to support him. He also helped by selling watercolour postcards he himself created to a local bookstore.

Amorsolo's works are known for his play of light and shadows (noted for his signature backlighting technique of his subjects) and for his mastery of realism, impressionism and the use of chiaroscuro, an Italian term describing contrast between light and dark, to achieve a sense of three-dimensionality, especially in regards to the human figure. (Source)

Maraming salamat, Arlene.