How does Camote Diggers elucidate its Background?
The painting depicts an old woman and a young man digging for camote (sweet potato). Camote Diggers is a 1969 oil on canvas work measuring 88 cm × 149 cm (35 in × 59 in). A smaller and finished version of Camote Diggers exists – an oil on canvas artwork which measures 27 cm × 38 cm (11 in × 15 in) and is also dated 1969. The smaller version had the inscription "To my friend Tony Kayanan, in admiration, Botong Francisco" on its back.According to historian and curator Ambeth Ocampo, the digging of the old woman along with the young man, which he says could possibly be her son, is a commentary on the plight of the poor. Ocampo adds that the red, white, and blue in the background is meant to represent the Philippine flag, an allusion to "our sad republic, then and now".
Ambeth Ocampo Botong Francisco sweet potato Philippine flag camote