La Bulaqueña (Spanish for "the woman from Bulacan" or "the Bulacan woman"), also sometimes referred to as Una Bulaqueña ("a woman from Bulacan"), is the title of an 1895 oil-on-canvas painting by Filipino painter and revolutionary activist Juan Novicio Luna. The painting is considered a masterpiece of Philippine turn-of-the-century portraiture.
Description
The painting depicts a full-figure portrait of a young Filipina woman from an elite provincial family, dressed in a traditional María Clara gown — a Filipino dress composed of the camisa (blouse), saya (long skirt), pañuelo (neck cover), and tapis (knee-length overskirt). The subject is shown holding an ivory fan and lace handkerchief, but with a notable informality of pose, standing at an oblique angle against a simple blue-green background. The work measures 185 x 87 cm.
History
Luna painted La Bulaqueña from November 1895 to the first months of 1896. During World War II, the painting was sold to the National Museum of the Philippines for 200 Japanese military notes. It is permanently held by the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila. In June 2025, the painting was sent on loan to the Louvre Abu Dhabi for a one-year exhibition.
Identity of the Subject
The identity of the woman in the painting has been the subject of scholarly discussion. According to the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, the sitter was Emiliana Yriarte Trinidad (born January 4, 1878 – died March 22, 1971), who was less than 17 years old when she posed for the portrait. This identification is supported by existing photographs of Emiliana Trinidad, who also sat for Luna's other painting, Tampuhan. Other theories have suggested the woman could be Dolores Sabas, María Rodrigo Fernando, or a woman Luna courted after the death of his wife, but the identification as Emiliana Trinidad is the most widely accepted.
