Acclaimed Syrian modern master Louay Kayyali is best-known for his depictions of dispossessed working class figures. Tinges of melancholy and stoicism characterise much of Kayyali's work after the 1967 war and the sentiments of political failure in the Arab world in general. This touching seated portrait from 1974 places focus on a woman who carries an air of resignation suggested by her posture and contemplative gaze. Active during a time of immense upheaval, Kayyali was one of the region's most prominent artists, his paintings externalising the pressing humanitarian and political issues that surrounded him. His powerful depictions of ordinary people are characterised by strong fluid lines that define the figures and the absence of extraneous detail. Despite his sensitivity to textures, namely the use of masonite board, the clarity of Kayyali's outlines remain very classical, and his subjects are executed with poignant individuality.

During his lifetime, Kayyali exhibited in Rome, Milan, Montreal, Damascus and Beirut. Posthumously, his works have been featured in numerous exhibitions, including the Chelsea Art Museum, New York (2008) and the National Museum of Aleppo (1979). Kayyali’s works held in public collections include MATHAF: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; the National Museum of Aleppo; the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah and the British Museum, London.