The study of anatomy is crucial for the understanding of the complexity of the human form. Knowledge in understanding the muscular systems and how the body moves will enable a natural and realistic drawing of figures. Notes from the artist's observation of the human anatomy are written on the upper right of the image. Dato' Tay Hooi Keat graduated from the Camberwell School of Art, London in 1952. On his return, he was made the Penang Superintendent of Art and then the Federal Inspectorate of Art in the Education Ministry when Malaya attained Independence in 1957. He was the founding treasurer of the Penang Chinese Art Club, and was chairman of the Penang Museum Art Gallery (PMAG) board of trustees from 1964 to 1989. He was the first artist to be awarded a Dato'ship in 1986. He rarely had solo exhibitions since his first at the Penang Library in 1947. In 1980, the PMAG gave him a tribute exhibition and in 1983 the National Art Gallery Malaysia honoured him with a retrospective.