At the Windowsill

This is one of numerous studies of women produced by Chughtai. Many of these appear at first glance simply to be idealized visual descriptions. In several of them, however, the artist's use of color and his choice of subject matter carry symbolic meanings. A number of Chughtai's paintings deal with love and separation, favorite themes of South Asian and Persian poets. The woman in this painting, with her brooding stare, may represent a preoccupied lover. The red color that saturates the painting was often used by Chughtai to symbolize love and passion.