Shurub

A woman in three-quarter view raises one hand to twist a lock of her braided hair near her temple, eyes lowered in concentration. She wears a white under-blouse trimmed with colorful borders and a striped, multicolored woven wrap draped over one shoulder, with a beaded necklace at her throat. In the lower left corner a clay water jug and small woven basket rest on the ground before a solid warm-orange wall, broken at upper left by a patchwork of small colored squares.

Hot orange and red dominate the background, set off by the jewel-toned stripes of red, blue, green and gold in the wrap. The face and hands are modelled with more finish and warm directional light, while the background patches are laid in with loose, broad strokes. The contrast between tight and loose handling, and the saturated color overall, gives the scene a vibrant, intimate mood.