Lady Lighting a Lamp

Framed Chughtai painting. A lady holding a burning lamp in her left hand and supporting her left hand with her right, above the candle stick. A plain golden band round the painting. The lamp is ornate with a long chain attached.

The portrayal here is of a woman in flowing robes, lighting a lamp at sundown. Using the water colour, tempera technique, Chughtai has drenched the entire painting in the warm orange hues of the setting sun. The handling of light and shade and the use of transparent layers of colours creates a pleasing, lyrical quality.