oil on metal sheet

Artwork date: 1950
Signature details: signed and dated bottom left

(1)

59.5 x 90 cm; framed size: 74.5 x 105 x 6 cm

Provenance:

Private collection, Johannesburg.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

This painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff masterfully contrasts textures, drawing the viewer's attention to the interplay between the various surfaces depicted. The silkiness of the cloth, with its gold and black stripes, cascades across the canvas, capturing light in a way that emphasises its luxurious texture. The softness of each fold and ripple contrasts sharply with the whimsical background, painted with broad, liberal strokes. These swirling, dynamic brushstrokes add a sense of playfulness, and push the painting towards the edge of the fantastical.

At the centre of this textured interplay is the vase, a paragon of smoothness and reflection. The vase’s mirror-like sheen captures the essence of its surroundings, distorting and reflecting the striped fabric in a way that bends reality, becoming a portal where reality is inverted and transformed. This reflective quality not only enhances the realism of the scene but also adds an element of intrigue, drawing the viewer into the interplay of light and reflection, blurring the lines between object and environment. The painting is a striking study of contrasts ­– between the tangible and the ethereal, the smooth and the textured – showcasing Tretchikoff's skilful manipulation of surfaces to create a visually captivating experience.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE

• The original Chinese Girl painting currently holds the record for a Tretchikoff work sold at auction, selling for an impressive $1 486 424 in London in 2013.Vladimir

• Tretchikoff is considered one of the greatest commercial artists of all-time, with his most prolific work, Chinese Girl, recorded as the most highly circulated print in art history, selling more than half a million large-format reproductions worldwide by the end of the artist’s career.

• In 2011, a major retrospective exhibition, Tretchikoff: The People’s Painter, curated by Andrew Lamprecht was held at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

• A book, Tretchikoff: The People’s Painter, was published to accompany the exhibition. Edited by Lamprecht it included essays by Boris Gorelik, Yvonne du Toit, Melvyn Minaar and Ashraf Jamal.

• Further acclaimed publications include, The Gold Book, a large format book written and published by Howard Timmins in 1969 and Incredible Tretchikoff: Life of an Artist and Adventurer by Boris Gorelik in 2013.

COLLECTIONS:

The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, the; Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch; Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch; Oyster Box Hotel, Durban and Browns Jewellers, Johannesburg.