This is a painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff called “Chinese girl” that I found in a book in JAG’s library. I know it as “the blue girl” i’m not sure whether that was the name my friends gave it when we were studying it or if thats just how i came to remember it. It is a beautifully painted portrait of a Chinese woman with a blue face,the model is someone called Monika Sing-Lee.
The portrait became very popular Tretchikoff himself doesn't know why it became so popular. According to the book the original was destroyed when someone ransacked his house and he had to repaint it although the painting was never listed in the police reports of the slashed paintings.
Before I began studying anthropology the image was just a really beautiful portrait of a woman but now when i look at it I cant help but see it as the exoticisation of asian woman. Not sure why she was painted in blue but it gives her an otherworldly look althought aesthetically pleasing it could be seen as exoticisation. I doubt that at the time the image was created this was an issue that was debated.
