The Maharashtrian Lady is a portrait of an unknown woman who posed for Varma. He preferred painting women with big, bold eyes, a symbol of feminine beauty in Indian culture. The woman is holding a plate of fruit, which shows Varma’s European influence of still life paintings. Fruit represent fertility combined with the sensuality of the female subject. Her gaze is direct and fixed at the spectator suggesting self-confidence. Verma was skilled in using oil colors for painting Indian skin tones and the vibrant colors of the women’s silk saris.