Context (CMS Context)
This painting forms part of a group of 32 paintings (2012.12-2012.43), 31 of which represent Burmese men and woman (of which two are monks), and one landscape. 2012.37 has the following inscription; ‘Mg. Tun. Hla. Artist.’ It is therefore possible that the remaining 31 pictures, which are painted in a similar style, were made by the same artist. However, the artist’s name signed on 2012.37 does not correspond with the signatures seen on Mg Tun Hla’s paintings at the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection (SADACC). It is possible therefore that the Museum’s paintings are not by Mg Tun Hla.

Mg [Maung] Tun Hla, also known as M.T. Hla (Later known as U Tun Hla), was one of the first painters to adopt the western style. He mostly worked in watercolour. He was a member of the Burma Art Club (BAC), a prestigious art institution in Rangoon established around 1914. It was based in the Rangoon Government High School. Founded by amateur British painters, it was intended to teach Western style painting to Burmese artists.

Event Date 31/7/2012
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Portrait of an elderly woman with an aqua blue and green sarong wearing a long beaded necklace. Oil painting on canvas mounted on board by ?Mg [Maung] Tun Hla. Condition: fair. Grey and white specks visible on the background and skin of the face. Canvas slightly bubbled. Wear and tear around edges.
Event Date 31/7/2012
Author: maa