PN Choyal- Portrait of a woman - size: 44 x 30 cm

P.N. Choyal (1924–2012) was an influential Indian modern artist celebrated for blending traditional Rajasthani aesthetics with Western abstraction. Best known for his evocative, dreamlike depictions of the historic forts, havelis, and rural landscapes of Rajasthan, he seamlessly fused realism with the surreal. 

• The Central Figure: The painting captures a close-up, semi-abstracted view of a woman heavily shrouded in a traditional ghoonghat (veil) or odhni (headscarf).

• The Gesture: Her hands are positioned prominently as she parts the fabric slightly around her eyes. Her left hand tentatively pulls the veil down while her right hand steadies it, creating a narrow, slit-like opening.

• The Gaze: Through this small opening, her dark, deeply expressive eyes peer out directly at the viewer. Her expression is solemn, guarded, and intensely observant.

• Color Palette: The composition is dominated by a vibrant, earthy terracotta orange and crimson red, heavily evocative of the landscapes, sandstone architecture, and traditional attire of Rajasthan. This fiery background is contrasted against soft, hazy patches of cream and pale yellow at the bottom and right edges, giving the piece an atmospheric, dreamlike quality.

Artist: PN Choyal

Medium: Oil on canvas

size: 45 x 60 cm

Year :1991