Three Ladies

The composition depicts three elongated female figures standing closely together beneath a glowing amber sun. Their simplified silhouettes and dramatically oversized, geometric headwear lend the composition an almost ceremonial quality, while their close arrangement suggests companionship, solidarity and quiet intimacy.

The artist approaches the figures with a distinctly modernist sensibility, reducing the human form to elegant shapes and flattened planes. Facial features are deliberately minimal – small eyes and flashes of red at the lips emerge from dark faces – allowing posture, pattern and proportion to carry the expression. The exaggerated rectangular forms above the figures create a wonderful architectural rhythm across the upper half of the composition, contrasting with the softer curves of their shoulders and the setting sun behind them.

The palette is beautifully restrained and earthy, dominated by tobacco brown, umber, charcoal, muted taupe and warm terracotta. Against these subdued tones, touches of burnished ochre and golden yellow illuminate the patterned garments and echo the glowing sun, while tiny accents of blue and deep red provide unexpected points of colour.

Brushwork is largely soft and controlled, with broad areas of thinly worked, matte colour creating the painting’s characteristic flattened appearance. The edges retain a slight softness and irregularity that reveals the hand of the artist rather than feeling rigidly graphic. More animated marks appear within the clothing: loosely brushed golden squares, narrow vertical strokes and scattered jewel-like dabs create texture and individuality across each figure. These small painterly details enliven the otherwise restrained composition and provide a pleasing counterpoint to its bold geometric forms.

This oil on canvas is presented in a beautiful and very well suited linen lined wood frame with an inner gilt window. The painting is in excellent vintage condition. The frame has a mark to the bottom section of the linen border, which does not detract from the overall appearance of the piece.

Size: 79 x 79 cm (including frame)