Artwork
Coquetería
Coquetería is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts.
About this work
Overview
Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma, recognized among Chile’s principal painters of the late nineteenth century, completed the oil canvas titled Coquetería in 1896. The work is part of the National Museum of Fine Arts’ holdings in Santiago and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with Impressionist aesthetics.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a seated woman, her profile turned slightly, smiling gently while holding a decorative hand‑fan. She also clutches a flower, suggesting a moment of personal leisure or genteel refinement within an interior setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting balances realistic detail—particularly in the textures of the dark dress, the feathered fan, and the surrounding objects—with a softer, light‑filled atmosphere typical of Impressionism. The brushwork captures subtle variations of color and light across the figure and room.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, Coquetería has remained in Chile, eventually entering the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of the nation’s artistic heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma (Valparaiso, 8 February 1856 – Villejuif, France, 27 October 1909) was one of Chile's best-known painters and one of the four artists known as the Great Chilean Masters.
