"Tampuhan" meaning "sulking", is an 1895 classic oil on canvas impressionist painting by Filipino painter and hero Juan Luna. It is a depiction of two persons in a living room of a house. The two people are Filipino lovers sulking or experiencing "tampo" because of an argument or a misunderstanding.The man is looking out on the street from the balcony. The woman on the other hand is focusing her eyes on the floor. According to Rosalinda Orosa, the owner of the painting, the man is Ariston Bautista Lin, a friend of Luna who studied medicine in Europe.Then she said that the woman is Emiliana Trinidad, the ancestor of the owner of the painting.
The living room shows that these two people are rich, because of their formal attire and the floor of the living room is a polished mahogany wood. The two people in this painting shows an uncommunicative mood because of the man is looking outside while the woman is behind the man looking on the floor.The painting also shows the design of a house during 1895, which is consist of windows made from capis,the detailed balustrade, the highly polished floor, and the Vienna chair. If you will notice, there is only one shade of color that was used by Luna in this painting, the shade of brown, except on the black cloth on the waist of the woman,the frame of the chair, and the red flag-like object on the window in front.
If you will notice the man is looking at the women on the window in front of him, this says that if the woman sitting on the chair will not remove her "tampo", the man will look for another woman. This implies that during late 1800's men was dominant than women in terms of a relationship.
I'm fascinated by this painting because of the mix of colors that are used, the detailedness of every part, especially the reflection on the floor, the window, the chair, and the trees outside.
But, according to Emilio Aguilar Cruz, an artist, writer, editor, and an art critic, lovers quarrel is not the subject of the painting. He said that the subject is a special occasion or a fiesta, where there is a procession outside being watched by the man and the other ladies in front of their house. He added that the red cloth on the window or balcony of their neighbor is a sign of having an event.
Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampuhan_(painting)
http://www.kulay-diwa.com/juan_luna
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diamonds_in_the_soles_of_her_shoes/469501145/
http://www.oocities.org/sinupan/agularac.htm
Tampuhan by Juan Luna