Topical Collection: Solomon Saprid on Philippine Stamps

 

Topical Stamp | Arts | Sculpture | Solomon Saprid

 

Solomon Saprid
(1917—2003)

 

Solomon Saprid was a major Filipino modern sculptor, best known for his expressive sculptures made from welded brass and other metals. He was born in Imus, Cavite, on March 13, 1917, and was considered a late bloomer, becoming a professional sculptor only around the age of 50. He initially worked as an educator, scientific illustrator, and textbook illustrator and earned a master's degree in education from Ohio State University. His first major recognition as a sculptor came in 1967, when his wooden sculpture, Sad Christ, attracted attention in the Art Association of the Philippines' annual competition. His sculptures are characterized by rough, jagged welded surfaces, open spaces, and strongly animated human figures. Rather than concealing the seams produced by welding, he used them as an important visual element. His figures often appear to be caught in a moment of movement — a quality associated with his idea of "frozen motion." Among his best-known subjects are Philippine mythical creatures, religious figures, historical subjects, mothers and children, and ordinary Filipino people. He died on September 25, 2003.

 

 

The Burgos-Gomez-Zamora Centennial Commission sponsored a national competition for a monument commemorating the martyrdom and aspirations of GOMBURZA for the Filipino nation. Solomon Saprid was selected by the jury as the winner of the competition. The bronze monument was funded by public donation and was completed in time for the Gomburza centennial in 1972. It was originally installed at Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, Manila. The GOMBURZA National Monument was relocated to Padre Burgos Avenue, at Liwasang Gomburza, facing the National Museum of Fine Arts in 1980.

 

The GOMBURZA National Monument was featured on the 5-sentimo (Scott #1115) and 60-sentimo stamps (Scott #1116), issued on April 3, 1972, to commemorate the centenary of the martyrdom of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora.

 

Benguet Corporation was founded on August 12, 1903, as the Benguet Consolidated Mining Company to develop gold-mining operations in Benguet. The company subsequently expanded and diversified its mineral operations to include copper, chromite, nickel, and other mineral resources. In 1980, it adopted the name Benguet Corporation, reflecting the broader scope of its activities. As part of its centennial celebration in 2003, the company commissioned sculptor Solomon Saprid to create The Miners, also known as Men of Gold, as a lasting tribute to the grit, labor, and heritage of underground gold miners. The sculpture was installed at the historic Balatoc Mining Compound in Itogon, Benguet, which served as the heart of the corporation's primary gold operations for decades.

 

The Miners was featured on the 6-piso stamp (Scott #2848), issued on August 12, 2003, to commemorate the centenary of Benguet Corporation.

 

Note:

• Stamps are shown at approximately their actual size. However, due to space constraints, long images may be reduced to fit the available viewing area. To view an image in greater detail, click on it to display a larger version.
• Only Philippine stamps depicting artworks by Solomon Saprid are included in this list.
• Scott Catalogue numbers are provided when available. When no country is specified, the Scott Catalogue number refers to a Philippine stamp.
• Created: 12 October 2026

 

Topical Collection: Solomon Saprid on Philippine Stamps

Topical Collection: Jacques Villon on Philippine Stamps

 

Topical Stamp | Arts | Painting | Jacques Villon

 

Jacques Villon
(1875—1963)

 

Jacques Villon, born Gaston Émile Duchamp on July 31, 1875, was a French painter and printmaker associated with the Cubist movement. He was the elder brother of artists Marcel Duchamp, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, and Suzanne Duchamp. He adopted the name Jacques Villon in the early 1900s, choosing “Jacques” as his first name and “Villon” in honor of the medieval French poet François Villon. Villon initially worked as a newspaper illustrator and printmaker before turning to painting. His early work was influenced by Impressionism, but he later developed a highly structured style influenced by Cubism. He exhibited alongside other leading avant-garde artists and was associated with the Puteaux Group, a circle of artists interested in Cubism and abstraction. His later paintings often featured landscapes, still lifes, and figures interpreted through carefully organized geometric forms. Villon died in his studio at Puteaux on June 9, 1963.

 

Villon's painting Paysage du Tarn et Garonne portrays the landscape of Tarn-et-Garonne, a department in southwestern France. Rather than presenting the scenery in a purely realistic manner, Villon organized the landscape into simplified forms characteristic of his Cubist-influenced style. Planes, lines, and areas of color are carefully balanced, giving the composition a structured and harmonious appearance.

 

The painting was depicted on a 12-piso stamp (Scott #3732a), issued on June 26, 2017, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France. As part of a joint issue with France, Paysage du Tarn et Garonne was also featured on France's 1.30-euro counterpart stamp (Scott France #5260), which was included in a two-stamp souvenir sheet (Scott France #5261) issued on the same date.

 

Note:

• Stamps are shown at approximately their actual size. However, due to space constraints, long images may be reduced to fit the available viewing area. To view an image in greater detail, click on it to display a larger version.
• Only Philippine stamps depicting artworks by Jacques Villon are included in this list.
• Scott Catalogue numbers are provided when available. When no country is specified, the Scott Catalogue number refers to a Philippine stamp.
• Created: 5 October 2026