At Strauss & Co’s modern and contemporary art auction in Johannesburg, Lady from the Orient by Vladimir Tretchikov just sold for a jaw-dropping R31.1 million, setting a new national record for the artist.
👨🎨But who was Vladimir Tretchikov and why are his paintings breaking records at auctions?
Born in Russia and passed away in Cape Town, Tretchikov was South Africa’s most celebrated painter in the 1950s and '60s. Known as “The People's Painter,” his art defied the critics and won the hearts of millions.
Over his lifetime, Tretchikov held 52 exhibitions across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Despite creating during the postmodern era (some art historians see him as a precursor to Andy Warhol), Tretchikov’s roots were firmly in the Russian realist tradition. His painting style evokes echoes of Nicholas Roerich’s mysticism and the fairytale charm of Ivan Bilibin.
🎨 Tretchikov was the painter of the people. One of his most iconic works, The Chinese Girl (also known as The Green Lady), features a laundress named Monika Sing-Lee. The portrait became a global sensation – reproduced and sold around the world – while the model herself remained unaware of her fame.
🧡 Vladimir Tretchikov had a deep appreciation for African beauty, often painting everyday people with a striking, almost sculptural style. One of his most famous works, a portrait of a girl with half her face white, the other half black, remains a powerful meditation on racial unity.
#ArtHistory#SouthAfricanArt#Tretchikov
At Strauss & Co’s modern and contemporary art auction in Johannesburg, Lady from the Orient by Vladimir Tretchikov just sold for a jaw-dropping R31.1 million, setting a new national record for the artist.
👨🎨But who was Vladimir Tretchikov and why are his paintings breaking records at auctions?
Born in Russia and passed away in Cape Town, Tretchikov was South Africa’s most celebrated painter in the 1950s and '60s. Known as “The People's Painter,” his art defied the critics and won the hearts of millions.
Over his lifetime, Tretchikov held 52 exhibitions across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Despite creating during the postmodern era (some art historians see him as a precursor to Andy Warhol), Tretchikov’s roots were firmly in the Russian realist tradition. His painting style evokes echoes of Nicholas Roerich’s mysticism and the fairytale charm of Ivan Bilibin.
🎨 Tretchikov was the painter of the people. One of his most iconic works, The Chinese Girl (also known as The Green Lady), features a laundress named Monika Sing-Lee. The portrait became a global sensation – reproduced and sold around the world – while the model herself remained unaware of her fame.
🧡 Vladimir Tretchikov had a deep appreciation for African beauty, often painting everyday people with a striking, almost sculptural style. One of his most famous works, a portrait of a girl with half her face white, the other half black, remains a powerful meditation on racial unity.
#ArtHistory#SouthAfricanArt#Tretchikov