Chinese Girl
Encyclopedia
The Chinese Girl is a 1950
painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff
. It became one of the world's most popular paintings when made into print in the 1960s and 1970s, and is one of the world's best-selling art prints. The painting is of a Chinese
girl and is best known for the unusual skin tone used for her face - a blue-green colour, which gives the painting its popular name "The Green Lady". The model was the daughter of a restaurant owner Tretchikoff met in San Francisco - the painting is Tretchikoff's second variation on the theme, after the first (using a different model) was destroyed in a robbery at the artist's studio in South Africa
.
. It can also be seen in several Monty Python TV episodes; in a skit where a door-to-door documentary presenter describes the lurid sex lives of mollusks, and in an evening with the cheap laughs, where a moustache is painted on it. The painting is seen in the apartment of Ruby, Shelley Winters
' character, in Alfie
(1966), as well as in the Mick Jagger movie Performance
(1970).
1950 in art
-Awards:*Archibald Prize: William Dargie - Sir Leslie McConnan*Audubon Artists Gold Medal - Richmond Barthé-Works:*Marc Chagall - La Mariée*Alberto Giacometti - The Chariot*L. S...
painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff
Vladimir Tretchikoff
Vladimir Grigoryevich Tretchikoff was one of the most commercially successful artists of all time - his painting Chinese Girl is one of the best selling art prints ever.Tretchikoff was a...
. It became one of the world's most popular paintings when made into print in the 1960s and 1970s, and is one of the world's best-selling art prints. The painting is of a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
girl and is best known for the unusual skin tone used for her face - a blue-green colour, which gives the painting its popular name "The Green Lady". The model was the daughter of a restaurant owner Tretchikoff met in San Francisco - the painting is Tretchikoff's second variation on the theme, after the first (using a different model) was destroyed in a robbery at the artist's studio in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Popular culture
This painting can be seen hanging in the background of an animated living room in the music video for the song 'Young Folks' by Peter Bjorn & John. It may also be seen adorning the living room of Bob Rusk, the killer in Alfred Hitchcock's 1972 film, FrenzyFrenzy
Frenzy is a 1972 British thriller film produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and is the penultimate feature film of his extensive career. The film is based upon the novel Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square by Arthur La Bern, and was adapted for the screen by Anthony Shaffer. La Bern...
. It can also be seen in several Monty Python TV episodes; in a skit where a door-to-door documentary presenter describes the lurid sex lives of mollusks, and in an evening with the cheap laughs, where a moustache is painted on it. The painting is seen in the apartment of Ruby, Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
' character, in Alfie
Alfie
Alfie is a 1966 British film directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Michael Caine. It is an adaptation by Bill Naughton of his own novel and play of the same name. The film was released by Paramount Pictures....
(1966), as well as in the Mick Jagger movie Performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
(1970).
See also
- Red JacketRed Jacket (documentary)Red Jacket is a 1998 documentary film about the life of the world's best-selling artist, Vladimir Tretchikoff. The film was produced by Technitronics and televised by the SABC.-Synopsis:...
- The Dying SwanAlicia Markova "The Dying Swan"Alicia Markova "The Dying Swan" is a painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff painted in 1949...
External links
- "Interview with Tretchikoff's model for Chinese Girl" at Mail & GuardianMail & GuardianThe Mail & Guardian is a South African weekly newspaper, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a strong focus on politics, government, the environment, civil society and business.- The Mail & Guardian newspaper :...
- "Gaze of the Green Lady" at BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Website about the life and paintings of "Vladimir Tretchikoff"