The collective and individual struggles of modern Egyptian history are entwined in the artwork of Egyptian artist Gazbia Sirry, who utilises a nuanced form and style. Deciphering the specific qualities of Sirry’s paintings provides a unique glimpse into her attitudes toward the cultural and political transformations of her time. Emphasising strong female figures in her work in the 1950s and 1960s, critics have read her work as either playfully naïve or infused with sharp political commentaries.