Ask one of the most famous works of Russian-African artist Vladimir Tretchikova, replicated by hundreds of thousands of copies, will be offered at Bonhams auction on March 20 with an estimate of 300-500 thousand pounds

VDADIMIR TRETCHIKOV Chinese girl (Green Lady). Early 1950s
Bonhams. 20.03.2013
Estimate: 300-500 thousand pounds
Source: bonhams.com

The auction of South African art Bonhams in London on March 20 will be offered the famous work of Russian-African artist Vladimir Tretchikova and one of the most publicized paintings in the world - "China Girl", also known as the "Green Lady».

In artistic heritage Tretchikova Vladimir G. (1913-2006) "China Girl" stands out. The future artist, who was born in the Russian Empire after the revolution along with his parents emigrated to China. Having lived in Harbin and Shanghai, he and his childhood was filled with Chinese culture. In 1946, he permanently moved to South Africa, but it is in Africa, he met the Chinese model for his famous portrait. This meeting took place in early 1950 in Sea Point in Cape Town. Here 17-year-old Monika Sing-Lee worked in a laundry room of his uncle. The girl had a reputation of a local beauty, she was introduced was already fairly well-known artist, and he asked her to pose for a portrait. According to Monica, who is now in his eighties, Tretchikov paid her £ 6 per session. If she knew how popular it would become the portrait, she would have asked for more. Chinese woman remembers her first portrait of scary not like because of the color of the face. "I'm not green! I do not understand what that means. I do not like green, I look sickly "- Monica Tretchikovu complained, but the author only laughed.

Portrait of a Chinese woman with a green face went on to become one of the most publicized images of post-war art. Tretchikov himself believed that in all the years since the writing of the portrait, it sold at least half of his large-format prints. Portrait of Chinese are also printed on mugs, wallpaper, and so forth. A master of all that time did not leave a single collection. Portrait bought Tretchikova resident of Chicago while traveling artist in America in the 1950s. At the auction Bonhams «Chinese girl" puts the woman's granddaughter.

Tretchikova Works has been actively increasing in price. Today, the list of the most expensive works of his head, "Portrait of Lena (red jacket)." In October 2012, this picture set a record at Bonhams: hammer price was 337.25 thousand pounds , while the estimate 50-80 thousand pounds. Better time to sell the "Green Lady" is hard to imagine.

Prepared Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources : bonhams.com , guardian.co.uk , artinvestment.ru