The artist's model(s) in the studio is a perennial theme and here, Dato' Chuah Thean Teng places the (seated) female nude model in the forefront, dominating one entire half (right) of the picture, with the artist facing viewer in reduced scale and with stood easel and colour palette in hand in the left background. Brilliant composition, a rare masterpiece of absolute quality! Dato' Chuah Thean Teng was credited by Dr Michael Sullivan (who featured him in his 1959 book, Chinese Art in 20th Century, as the Father of Batik Painting, having transformed a 2,000-year crafts tradition into a modern art form, and expanding the parameters of techniques and style in subsequent years. Developed in 1953, he staged the first solo of his batik art the Arts Council in Penang in 1955, and was arguably the first Malaysian to have his solo abroad when he had his in London in 1959. He was also the only Malaysian to be invited to the Commonwealth Artists of Fame exhibition in England, to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1977.