Letras y figuras (Spanish, "letters and figures") is agenre ofpainting pioneered byJosé Honorato Lozano during theSpanish colonial period in the Philippines. The art form is distinguished by the depiction of letters of thealphabet using a genre of painting that contoured shapes of human figures, animals, plants, and other objects calledTipos del País popularized byDamián Domingo. The letters depicted spell out a phrase or a name, usually that of thepatron who commissioned the work.[1] The paintings were done withwatercolor onManila paper. The earliest example of this art form dates from 1845; the latest existing specimens were completed during the latter portion of the American period in the 1930s during the administration of theCommonwealth of the Philippines.[2]
In 1995, an album of José Honorato Lozano's paintings were auctioned atChristie’s at the starting bid of£300,000.[2]