Artwork
El afilador
El afilador is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Antonio de Puga. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
El afilador is a 1640 oil-on-canvas painting by Antonio de Puga, a Spanish Baroque artist from Galicia.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts four figures: a man with a rifle, a woman, and two men working with a wooden frame and rope; one of the men is possibly repairing a leather item, such as a saddle or harness.
Technique & Style
Puga's use of chiaroscuro, a technique emphasizing contrasts between light and dark, creates a sense of volume in the scene, which is set against a dark background.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the State Hermitage Museum's collection; Puga, born in 1602 in Ourense, Galicia, is considered the region's first notable artist.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio de Puga (1602 – 1648), was a Spanish Baroque painter. Antonio de Puga was born in Ourense, son of a tailor of the same name and Ynés Rodriguez. He was the first notable artist from Galicia, and through the…
