Hafidh Al-Droubi (1914-1991 Baghdad), Women in a Cafe, 1960-1969, oil painting on board, 74.8 x 150 cm.

Hafidh Al-Droubi is a Iraqi artist and art educator from Baghdad, he was one of the first Iraqi artists to receive an education abroad. He moved back to Iraq to contribute to the booming art scene in the country by monetizing the profession of artists and being an advocate for rising local talents in the field. In 1941, Al-Droubi opened the first free artist studio which gave the artists space for creativity and production. His works mostly revolve around cubism and he utilises light and shadows in his work to emphasize on the dynamic of the elements within the space. Women in a Cafe is an oil painting which captures a lively scene of a group of women dressed up and each woman differentiates herself through her choice of jewellery, or hairstyle or headwear.They are having coffee and tea and socializing with one another in a comfortable and luxurious space. Al-Droubi paints these women as members of the upper class as they are lounging and relaxing in an extravagant space.