Maingtha Old Woman (Loikaw, Shan States) and Burmese Pious Old Man (Shwe-da-gon Pagoda, Rangoon)
Dyptich of watercolor paintings on paper, mounted within a single mat. • Yatanabon Maung Su (Burmese, 1903–1965).
Style & Movement
Burmese Modernist/Early 20th Century Realism. Part of the 'Rangoon School' which blended traditional Burmese sensibilities with Western watercolor techniques learned from European instructors during the colonial era.
Medium & Technique
Watercolor on paper. The artist employs a mixture of fine realist brushwork for the facial features and broader, fluid washes for the clothing. Pencil underdrawing is visible in the structural outlines.
Creation Period
Circa 1920s-1940s (Early British Colonial era through mid-century).
Dimensions & Format
Landscape orientation frame containing two vertical (portrait) format sheets. Each sheet approximately 10 x 7 inches.
Subject Description
The left portrait depicts an elderly Maingtha (Achang) woman with a traditional headscarf and torque necklace. The right portrait depicts a 'pious old man' at the Shwedagon Pagoda, wearing traditional Burmese attire and smoking a cheroot. Both figures are rendered with ethnographic precision, highlighting facial texture and cultural costume.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paper shows age-appropriate toning (browning/yellowing), typical for mid-20th-century paper used in Southeast Asia.
Estimated Market Value
$2,000 - $3,500 USD.
Auction Estimate
$1,500 - $2,500 USD.
Provenance History
The works bear the artist's signature 'Yatanabon Mg Su' on both images. Inscriptions in English at the base suggests they were likely created for or acquired by a British/Western expatriate or tourist in Burma during the mid-20th century.
Art Historical Significance
Yatanabon Maung Su was a pioneering figure in Burmese modern art. These portraits are significant examples of the transition from traditional 'parabaik' painting to Western-influenced plein-air and portrait watercolor styles. His work is highly collectible in the Southeast Asian market as a record of pre-war Burmese ethnic life.
Notable Features
Handwritten ethnographic captions at the bottom of each painting and the distinctive 'Yatanabon Mg Su' signature with the flourish on the 'u'. The pairing of an upper-country Shan-state woman and a Rangoon city man suggests a curated ethnic set.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (small brown spots) on the left panel. Moderate acid-burn/browning of the paper due to exposure to non-archival mounting materials. Potential light fading of the blue pigments.
Conservation Recommendations
Request a paper conservator to de-acidify the paper. Remount using 100% acid-free museum-grade matting and UV-protective glass to prevent further darkening and pigment loss.