This is a rare illustration of a south Indian matron, standing full frontal against European looking buildings in the background; her arms akimbo; dressed in a red sari with zari border together with traditional, large pieces of gold jewellery including a girdle. The painting resonates with the power, wisdom and authority that typify the matriarch in south Indian households; much like the matriarchal Malayalee woman or aachi of the Chettiar community.
