A prolific illustrator and printmaker during her lifetime, portraiture was a frequent subject of Pitaloosie Saila’s work. With a focus on women, her depictions are often of childhood memories and her knowledge of the ways her relatives used to live in the Arctic. In this self portrait, Pitaloosie has rendered herself as a young woman. Her calm demeanour and gentle gaze is framed with tunniit (and Inuk woman’s facial tattoos) reminiscent of the ones her aunts had, but fictional to her own appearance. Further hints to a former time, like the braided and bundled hairstyle and a luscious fur parka are punctuated by small bow in her hair, and outlined by the lines of an ulu behind her, all making for quite the portrayal.