Woman

In the post-colonial era, many artists have aligned themselves with the ancient civilisations of their respective regions, thereby exploring their unique national visual identities. The prominent Yemeni artist Fouad al-Futaih evokes features from ancient Yemeni kingdoms, focusing on women to underscore their pivotal role in Yemen's historical narratives and in contemporary Yemeni societies.

In contrast to the rest of his oeuvre, which is characterised by intricate ornamentation, al-Futaih employs minimal geometric forms in this abstract portrait, with references to folkloric ornaments and symbols found in the ancient South Arabian script, Musnad. The figure’s almond-shaped eyes, gazing away in solitude, and the full, calm lips are prominent features that create a solemn appearance reminiscent of the two-dimensional stone figures found in ancient Yemeni civilisation. Al-Futaih draws the woman's body with simple motifs on her dress. Her curly hair, escaping from the veil covering her head, suggests the complexity of contemporary Yemeni culture, which is a coherent blend of ancient heritage and Islamic traditions.