A new Cape Town auction will feature the largest number of Tretchikoff works ever offered in a single sale, including a portrait believed to be the first in the style that later defined his famous “Chinese Girl”.
Vladimir Tretchikoff’s reputation has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. Once dismissed as the “King of Kitsch,” he’s now recognised as one of South Africa’s most significant artists. His prints filled homes across the country, but his original paintings have become highly sought-after. This September, Strauss & Co is bringing an unusually large selection of them together in one sale.
The artist already made headlines earlier this year when Lady from the Orient (1955) sold for a record-breaking R31.1 million, the highest price ever paid for a South African artwork on the continent. At Strauss & Co alone, sales of his works have now reached close to R100 million.
The upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art Evening Sale offers a rare chance to see and buy several of his most important works at once. Here’s what’s going under the hammer.
One of the highlights is Malay Girl (1951). According to curator Andrew Lamprecht, it may be the first time Tretchikoff fully explored the subtle blue and green skin tones that later became his signature style. That experimentation shaped the haunting look of Chinese Girl (1952), one of his best-known works worldwide.
Nature also plays a role in the auction. Glowing (1975) shows charred tree stumps standing against a forest fire, the trunks almost human in form as they seem to fight back the flames.
These paintings, where Tretchikoff captured nature under threat, were rarely shown publicly and only a handful have ever come to market.
His portraits of people remain central. Masai portrays a Kenyan warrior, his face lit with blue highlights against a vibrant pink background. Seen from a low angle, the figure appears monumental and dignified, a classic example of Tretchikoff’s ability to mix drama with intimacy.
Another standout is Self-Portrait with Muse (1948). Painted soon after his arrival in South Africa, it shows the artist hard at work at his easel, while an oversized muse looms above him. Her hair is painted in bold rainbow strokes, a symbol of the inspiration that guided him.
Two botanical works also feature: Bleeding Lily (from his early Java period), rich with symbolism and a meditation on the cruelty and beauty of nature, and Poinsettia (1949), dating back to his very first South African exhibitions.
Both works reveal his long-running fascination with flowers as more than decoration but as subjects carrying meaning.
For fashion designer and long-time supporter Marianne Fassler, the appeal is simple: “His works are unashamedly beautiful. How can anyone ever think otherwise?”
On View
The Tretchikoff works will be on view at Strauss & Co’s offices in Woodstock in the lead-up to the live auction. The Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale will take place on Tuesday, 16 September, 7pm at their gallery or you can join online for the auction.
Find Strauss & Co on the 2nd floor, 35 Brickfield Road, Brickfield Canvas Building, Woodstock, Cape Town.
More details at straussart.co.za.
