Artwork
A lady combing her hair
A lady combing her hair is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Sahib Ram. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a woman engaged in the intimate act of combing her hair, a motif that underscores themes of personal grooming and domestic routine.
The painting portrays a woman engaged in the intimate act of combing her hair, a motif that underscores themes of personal grooming and domestic routine. Her adornments, a necklace, bracelet, and earring, along with her partially exposed upper torso and elaborate hairstyle, signal a focus on feminine adornment and sensuality. The work functions as a portrait that captures both the subject's physical presence and the cultural significance of hair‑care rituals within elite domestic settings of the period.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, employing a restrained palette of earth tones and delicate brushwork that emphasizes the soft rendering of the sitter's hair and skin. The formal composition centers the figure in a three‑quarter view, with subtle chiaroscuro modeling that highlights the contours of the head and the gentle curve of the neck. Stylistically, the work reflects late 18th‑century Indian portraiture, blending European portrait conventions with indigenous decorative motifs evident in the sitter's jewelry.
The surface condition is stable, showing only minor craquelure typical of age, with no significant losses or overpainting reported.
History & Provenance
The painting "A lady combing her hair" was created by Sahib Ram in 1790. It is classified as a portrait and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains located.
The sources do not provide further details about the work's commission, earlier ownership, acquisition history, or chain of custody prior to its entry into the museum's collection.
Overview
Created in 1796 by the Indian painter Sahib Ram, this portrait presents a seated woman engaged in the act of combing her hair. The work is part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Its composition centers on the figure against a plain blue backdrop, punctuated only by a modest cluster of pink blossoms at the lower edge.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sahib Ram was an Indian painter who led the royal atelier at the court of Jaipur in Rajasthan during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
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