Critique

Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Santa Maria Bulacan Campus
Dela Cruz, Christine L.

BSED EN 1-1
“DEATH MARCH”
Title: Death March
Artist: Dominador Castaneda
Medium: Oil in Canvas
Historical and Cultural Background:

The “Death March” by Dominador Castaneda is an painting showing dead Filipinos
lying on the road while the other natives help each other to get through the march. This
artwork created in 1942 which features the harsh physical abuse and merciless
exploitation of mankind. This painting also shows what happened when the Japanese
invade the Philippines in 1942. Filipino forced to make an 65mile march to prison camps.
The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by
the Japanese guard. Thousand people perished in what become known as the Bataan
Death March.
Author: Dominador Castaneda
Background of the Author:

Dominador Hillario Castañeda (1904-1976) wad born in Sta Cruz, Manila. He was
graduated from the U.P School of Fine Arts in 1924, and then he readily joined the
modernist movement started by Victorio C. Edades. Castaneda later took further studies
at America to the Art Institute of Chicago. Upon his return he joined the faculty of The
U.P. School of Fine Arts and became it’s director at the latter point of time.
Castaneda was a close friend and contemporary of Fernando Amorsolo. He was
also a noted art historian, who wrote “Art in the Philippines” in 1964 aside from the many
awards he received from art competitions, Castaneda was also honored with the
Patnubay Sining Award by the City of Manila in 1971.
Dominador passed away after two months of fight with Cancer of the large
intestine by the year of 1976.
“THE COUNTRY’S 1st POLYTECHNICU”

Country from:
This artwork is created in The Philippines by one of the known artist Dominador
Castañeda.
Story of Painting:
These painting featured the Japanese Invasion in the Philippines on how they
tortured the Filipinos during the Death March in Bataan. As we seen in the Painting the
natives were in the line and walk miles away via foot. It shows how sorrowful it feels ti be
forced to walk endlessly. The Filipino prisoners strived hard to withstand all kinds of
sufferings. The three men lying on the exhibit the one who did not make it to the end.
In this artwork it features that throughout the death march they could experience
dehydration, starvation, exhaustion and injuries however some of our fellowmen still
made it to the end. Furthermore in 1948 harsh abuses and merciless exploitation of
mankind shows. It occurred in the Philippines which means that there is an extreme heat
temperature that is threatening to the flesh it can be seen that the people are holding
each other to gain support and encouragement to go on.
Critique of Painting:
The Death March depicts the Japanese invasion in the Philippines there were
about 70,000 Filipino suffered and torture throughout the whole condition on Death
March. We can see how others still strive and manage to continue and endure hunger
and all injuries to live. This Bataan Death March typically took each group around five
days to complete the March which is very harsh. Thousand of troops died because of
brutality. The message here is that Death March was not easy to overcome or fight. So
we should honor our brave fellowmen who were involved in the said tragedy. They do not
deserve the cruelty of the world, they do not deserve to suffer
What i notice when I criticize the artwork is it shows the reality on how they strive
hard to live and how they suffered in death march at Bataan. I was amazed to this painting
it is very detailed that the people keep walking even they are searching for there death
upon there own feet.
These shows the scenes of hopelessness and despair. These are ghosts of the
past, time passed apologies and memorials have been made. Moving on is the road to
heal the pain and suffering from memories from the past. It is one of the most painful
history which cannot be undone but Moving on. Learning from the past mistakes and
helping each other to ensure these kind of event will never be repeated again.

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Critique

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Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Dela Cruz, Christine L.

Historical and Cultural Background:

Author: Dominador Castaneda

Background of the Author:

“THE COUNTRY’S 1st POLYTECHNICU”

“THE COUNTRY’S 1st POLYTECHNICU”

Picture with Painting:

“THE COUNTRY’S 1st POLYTECHNICU”

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