A rare and magnificent piece, Vanity illustrates an intimate genre scene of daily life. In the foreground, a full bodied lady is depicted seated adorning her dark and lustrous mane in a harmonious composition of colour and form. Her radiant features are revealed in the reflection of a mirror held by a companion. A young child carrying a yellow bowl is strategically placed at the centre of the painting, becoming the point of interest. The round circle format accentuates the gentle curves of the female bodies, while the curvilinear arabesque batik ornamentations subtlety echoes the shapes of the curves. The painting is washed in turquoise, emerald and ash brown hues, with hints of coral tones on the lips of the figures. The outlines are skillfully accentuated in variations of flowing black lines, reflecting the confident draughtsmanship of the artist. Widely considered the pioneer of Malaysian batik art, Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng sought inspiration from the traditional artistic heritage of Southeast Asia, recording local scenes that were disappearing due to urban development. He received his early formal art education at Amoy Academy of Art in China, 1932. He held his first solo exhibition of 60 unique batik works at the Penang Library in September 1955. He exhibited his second solo exhibition at the British Council Hall in Singapore, March 1956. The year 1959 was significant for the artist as he became the first Malayan to hold an exhibition abroad at the Commonwealth Institute in the United Kingdom, financed by the federation government. His paintings Two of a Kind (1968), and Tell you a secret (1988) were selected by UNICEF to be reproduced as a greeting card, which was a privilege for artists worldwide. In 2008, The National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur held an exhibition in his honour, and was officiated by the Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. His works are collected by institutions such as the Penang State Art Gallery, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, University Sains Malaysia, University Malaya, Singapore Art Museum, and Herbert Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, USA.