About this episode

The episode explores the impact of a new art trend in 19th century Manila amidst significant societal changes.

The nineteenth century—steamships, family names, world trade, foreign firms, liberal ideas. Great tides of change are roiling Manila. In the middle of the chaos, a new art trend captures the imagination of local elites. How are these letras y figuras holding a mirror to Philippine society? Cover Photo from the Ayala Corporation Collection. Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Follow us on TikTok: @thecolonialdept Email us: thecolonialdept@gmail.com References: Blanco, John D. (2009). Frontier Constitutions: Christianity and Colonial Empire in the Nineteenth-Century Philippines. University of the Philippines Press. Santiago, Luciano P.R. (December 1991). “Damian Domingo and the First Philippine Art Academy.” Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society, 19 (4), pp. 264-280. Flores, Patrick D. (17 November 2011). “Everyday, Elsewhere: Allegory in Philippine Art.” Contemporary Aesthetics, (0) 3 (Special Issue). “Lot 46. Jose Honorato Lozano, c. 1815-1885.” (2021) Salcedo Auctions. Quirino, Carlos (1961) "Damian Domingo, Filipino Painter." Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints, 9 (1), pp. 78-96. “Jose Honorato Lozano (c. 1815-c. 1885).” (undated) Christie’s. Sorilla…

More episodes of The Colonial Department

• S8E3: Nobody Expects the Philippine Inquisition! · April 25, 2026 · 18 min
• S8E2: Riding a Tram in 1911 Manila · April 10, 2026 · 18 min
• INTERVIEW: Exploring the food history of the Philippines · April 4, 2026 · 38 min
• S8E1: The Philippine Sour-chipelago · March 21, 2026 · 17 min
• An important announcement about the future of The Colonial Dept. · February 26, 2026 · 6 min
• INTERVIEW: Twin timelines, entangled histories · February 6, 2026 · 38 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Colonial Department podcast page.