Maiden with an Oil Lamp by Abdur Rahman Chughtai

The motif of a young woman contemplating the glow of a lamp is a recurring theme in Chughtai’s work, particularly in the initial three decades of his career.

The image can be interpreted literally: a solitary maiden sits, perhaps anticipating the arrival of her beloved or gazing into the flame while reminiscing about him.

This sentiment is echoed in a Ghalib couplet that Chughtai paired with a similar piece:

“She was waiting alone all night.

“Only the lamp kept her company and now the lamp has gone out.”

However, in the realm of poetry, the flame also serves as a metaphor for the beloved, symbolising the irresistibility of the object of their desire.

Ghalib is one of the most important literary figures in South Asia btw.