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Small Whale · Reading worksheet

Letras y figuras

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/letras-y-figuras

Step 2 · Questions

1. What is the pioneering artist?
2. What is the influential precursor?
3. Who created this art style and when did it start?
4. How do artists make letters out of people and animals?

Step 3 · Words to know

Write what each word means, using the article.

Letras y figuras
Tipos del País
Manila paper
Genre painting

Step 4 · Two facts in your own words

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

1.

2.

Answer key (teacher copy)

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the pioneering artist?José Honorato Lozano (c. 1820–1885)
2. What is the influential precursor?The 'Tipos del País' genre, known for depicting local life and people
3. Who created this art style and when did it start?José Honorato Lozano pioneered the style, and the earliest known examples date to 1845. The style continued to be made until the 1930s.
4. How do artists make letters out of people and animals?Artists first choose the word to spell, then design each letter using shapes of bodies, animals, or plants. They must know anatomy and how to bend figures so the letter remains clear.

Letras y figuras: Spanish for 'letters and figures', denoting a specific Philippine art genre characterized by figural letterforms.
Tipos del País: A genre of Philippine painting from the 19th century depicting local inhabitants and scenes, influential to 'Letras y figuras'.
Manila paper: A durable, smooth paper made from the abacá plant, historically significant in Philippine art and documentation.
Genre painting: A style of painting that depicts scenes from everyday life, often with a focus on ordinary people and activities.