A kayah woman
1903
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1903
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A kayah woman is a 1903 watercolor by Maung Tin Hla, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a woman standing straight, barefoot, with her hands resting near her sides. She wears a dark sleeveless top, a patterned cloth wrapped around her waist, and a bright red-and-white scarf around her neck. Her hair is pulled back neatly, and she holds a small bag in one hand. The background is a loose, watery blue, keeping focus on her. The clothes and accessories look carefully observed, with simple but clear details. Next, look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
A Kayah woman from Kayah State is depicted wearing a dark striped woven cloth draped over the right shoulder and a matching wrap-around skirt that reaches just above the knees. The costume is secured with a fringed white sash wrapped multiple times around the waist, while colored bead ropes adorn the neck, waist, and legs above the calves, with additional black cord garters. Large pendant silver earrings are worn, and a piece of black cloth is bound diagonally around the head.
Read the full account in the museum source.
These watercolors from the early 1900s capture people from Myanmar’s Kayah, Taung Yo, and Zaw-Yein communities.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
