Street Scene in Cusco
Painting on paper • Miguel Chacon Ventura
Style & Movement
Indigenism / Peruvian Regionalism; mid-century modern influence
Medium & Technique
Watercolor on paper; techniques include wet-on-dry for structural details and wet-on-wet for atmospheric sky effects, with visible graphite underdrawing
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1950-1970)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 10 inches; portrait orientation
Subject Description
A steeply terraced cobblestone street in Cusco, Peru, flanked by traditional whitewashed adobe buildings with red-tile roofs. Figures in Andean dress and alpacas/llamas populate the foreground, moving uphill beneath a bright sky.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible toning to the paper and the surrounding mat, typical of age and exposure to light
Estimated Market Value
$200 - $450 USD
Auction Estimate
$150 - $300 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired in Peru during the mid-20th century as part of the artist's popular output for traveling collectors; long-term private ownership suggested by the age of the framing
Art Historical Significance
Chacon Ventura was a prolific Cusco-based watercolorist whose work helped popularize the 'Indigenismo' aesthetic. His work documents the architectural and cultural heritage of the Andes, focusing on daily life and traditional vistas.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature shorthand for figures and animals; strong use of vertical perspective and atmospheric light typical of the Cusco school of watercolor.
Condition Issues
Paper yellowing/toning (oxidation); subtle fading of blue pigments in the sky; minor acid burn from non-archival matting; possible foxing obscured by the glass
Conservation Recommendations
Remounting using acid-free, archival-grade matting and backing. Replacement of glass with UV-filtering acrylic to prevent further pigment fading.
Collector Notes
Cusco by Miguel Chacon Ventura