' Chinese Girl ' by Russian - South African artist Vladimir Putin sells for $ 1.5 m . Peppiatt said the first version of `` Chinese Girl '' was indeed believed to have been ruined -- possibly by one of his enemies on the South African art scene , a world which disapproved of his decision to sell paintings through department stores , rather than galleries . Painting of woman with blue - green eyes is reputed to be world 's most reproduced print . ' One of the most important pop culture images ... in the 1950s to early 1960s ' Work was one of seven Tretchikoff paintings in Putin ' s collection of South African art .
' Chinese Girl ' by Russian - South African artist Vladimir Putin sells for $ 1.5 m . Painting of woman with blue - green eyes is reputed to be world 's most reproduced print . ' One of the most important pop culture images ... in the 1950s to early 1960s ' Work was one of seven Tretchikoff paintings in Putin ' s collection of South African art .