Khalil Ibrahim's painted ode to the fishermen is legion, but what's exceptionally gorgeous about this particular work is the vivid background of mustard yellow with a golden tint seldom found in his palette, whether it be in oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel, batik or pen. The brownish skin tones of various silhouettes of the people on the beach suffuse Pop flavour. The rhythm and motion of the fishermen, half-naked and barefoot for practical reasons, are symbolic of their working in tandem on the sand, rain or shine. It was his paintings of fishermen that won him early notice and accolade when he won 2nd Prize in the Malayan Life national art competition sponsored by Lever Brothers in 1959. An outstanding southpaw, Khalil Ibrahim could scarcely paint after suffering a stroke in 2012. He studied at the St. Martin's School of Art and Design in London on a Pahang State scholarship, but was freed of obligations on his return, and he became a fulltime artist in 1966. His first solo, a double, was at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970. He was also a co-founder of the Malaysian Watercolour Society, holding various positions over time.