8 OF 26

Anna May Wong

8 of 26 portraits of Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong

by Dorothy Wilding, hand-coloured by Beatrice Johnson
hand-coloured bromide print, 1929
17 1/8 in. x 12 1/4 in. (435 mm x 310 mm) image size
Given by Beatrice Johnson, 1991
Photographs Collection
NPG x44636

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Sitterback to top

Anna May Wong (1905-1961), Actress. Sitter in 26 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Beatrice Johnson (1906-2000). Artist associated with 12 portraits.
Dorothy Wilding (1893-1976), Photographer. Artist associated with 2092 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In her autobiography In Pursuit of Perfection (1958), Dorothy Wilding recalled photographing Anna May Wong at her studio at 22 Old Bond Street. 'Anna May Wong... had the first long red fingernails I had ever seen. When I lifted her hands to 'drape' them', they were so fragile that one felt one was holding the most delicate snowdrops. She was the softest and gentlest creature one can imagine.' Amongst Wilding's large staff she employed the artist Beatrice Johnson to paint backdrops and produce painted colour versions of some of her portraits.