Object Details
- Artist
- Edward Jean Steichen, 27 Mar 1879 - 25 Mar 1973
- Sitter
- Anna May Wong, 3 Jan 1905 - 3 Feb 1961
- Exhibition Label
- Born Los Angeles, California
- Anna May Wong became the most famous Chinese American woman of her day, ultimately appearing in more than sixty films. In 1928, she left Hollywood to seek better roles. Over the next three years, she worked in Paris, London, and Berlin, starring in several films.
- European audiences were fascinated by Wong’s mix of American modernity, Hollywood glamour, and Chinese heritage. She set new fashion trends by blending Western style with Asian influences. Parisian magazines published photographs of Wong’s on-and off-screen appearances, reinforcing her reputation as a fashion icon.
- During one of Wong’s visits to New York City, Edward Steichen took a series of photographs that showcased her fusion of Western modernity and Eastern tradition. Here, the style and embroidery of Wong’s shimmering gown resemble a traditional Chinese cheongsam. But Steichen’s sleek, streamlined aesthetic is pure Art Deco—the style that became the rage in Paris in 1925.
- Nacida en Los Ángeles, California
- Anna May Wong fue la china americana más famosa de su tiempo y figuró en más de 60 películas. En 1928 abandonó Hollywood en busca de mejores papeles. Durante los tres años siguientes trabajó en diversos filmes en París, Londres y Berlín.
- El público europeo quedó fascinado con Wong por su mezcla de modernidad americana, glamur hollywoodense y ascendencia china. Wong impuso nuevas tendencias en el vestir al combinar influencias occidentales y asiáticas. Las revistas parisinas publicaban fotos de sus películas y su vida real, realzando su reputación como ícono de la moda.
- Durante una visita de Wong a Nueva York, Edward Steichen le tomó una serie de fotografías que captan esa fusión de modernidad occidental y tradición oriental. Aquí, el estilo y el bordado asemejan el sedoso vestido de Wong a un cheongsam chino tradicional. Pero la estilizada estética de Steichen es puro art déco, estilo que era la sensación en París hacia 1925.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- November 6, 1930
- Object number
- NPG.89.183
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Condé Nast
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image/Sheet: 25.3 × 20.1 cm (9 15/16 × 7 15/16")
- Mat: 55.9 × 40.7 cm (22 × 16")
- Place
- United States\New York\Kings\New York
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Architecture\Pedestal
- Anna May Wong: Female
- Anna May Wong: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.89.183
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm43e0b8fbf-4194-4664-92c9-ba7416b2efc2
