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
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.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with one arm lifted, delicately running a comb through her long, dark hair. She is adorned with conspicuous gold and beaded ornaments—a pair of large earrings, multiple stacked bracelets, and a beaded necklace—while a red cloth drapes over one shoulder. The relaxed pose suggests an intimate, everyday moment captured with a sense of quiet dignity.
Technique & Style
Sahib Ram employs a vivid palette, contrasting the deep blue background with the warm reds and golds of the subject’s attire and accessories. Fine brushwork renders the intricate details of the jewelry and the texture of the fabric, while the smooth modeling of the skin conveys a pale complexion. The overall effect balances decorative richness with a restrained, almost documentary realism.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings as part of its South Asian collection, reflecting the museum’s broader effort to represent Indian portraiture of the late eighteenth century. Its attribution to Sahib Ram, a noted painter active in the Punjab region, is supported by stylistic analysis and contemporary records linking the artist to courtly commissions during that period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sahib Ram spent his days hunched over delicate scraps, inking tiny figures onto paper so thin it almost disappeared under his brush.
