Title
Portrait of a Chinese lady
Year/Period
1920s
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Image size: 24 x 15.8 cm
Accession No.
2000-06087
Collection of
The hand-coloured photograph was a specialised art form that was popular in Singapore from the 1920s to the 1940s, though it had been around since the mid-19th century. The photo-artist would paint the negative first with Chinese ink or oil, followed by the retouching of the print. This was a highly exacting and tedious process that left no room for mistakes. With a deft hand, he would paint layer after layer of intricate patterns and delicate skin tones, and highlight jewellery and flowers with bright colours to bring life to the black and white image.
