On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, LE AUCTION HOUSE organizes the auction “20th Century Vietnamese Art” on Saturday, July 27, 2024, and Sunday, July 28, 2024. The auction features 300 diverse and carefully curated artworks spanning significant periods of Vietnamese art history, marking a milestone event for a Vietnamese auction house operating under a collaborative model between Vietnam and the UK.
Image 1: Victor Tardieu (1870 – 1937). A Good Book, 1904. Oil on canvas. Signed lower right. 46 x 54.9 cm
The establishment of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (L’ecole des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine) was a crucial turning point in the history of Vietnamese art. Founded officially in 1924 under the initiative of Victor Tardieu, who presented a proposal to Martial Merlin for the necessity of an art school in Hanoi, the college commenced its first enrollment in 1925 with French painter Victor Tardieu as its director. Over its 20 years of operation, the institution nurtured a community of quality artists, elevating Vietnamese art from anonymity.
Image 2: Alix Aymé (1894 – 1989). Family with Pets. Ink and watercolor on silk. Signed “ALIX AYMÉ” lower center and red seal lower right. 29 x 43 cm
Significant contributions to shaping Vietnamese art of this period must include French painters, writers, explorers, and photographers who came to Vietnam not only to explore the culture of the region but also to make significant contributions to art education in Annam. Among them were notable figures such as Victor Tardieu, Joseph Inguimberty, Alix Aymé, André Maire, and Evariste Jonchère,… Their works, along with those of Joseph Inguimberty, Alix Aymé, André Maire, Henri Mege,… are carefully selected and presented by LE AUCTION HOUSE at the auction, showcasing diverse aspects of a pivotal era in Vietnamese art.
Image 3: Joseph Inguimberty (1896 – 1971). Northern Landscape. 34.5 x 43.5 cm
Drawing from European art education, the pioneering artists of the Indochina College of Fine Arts upheld a sense of artistic mission. Their education at this institution influenced them to infuse indigenous cultural elements into their works.
Image 4: Luong Xuan Nhi (1914 – 2006). Riverside. Ink and color on silk. Signed and red seal lower right. 56 x 116 cm
These paintings depicting young women in traditional ao dai dresses, engrossed in reading, contemplation, or grooming, and scenes of temples, villages, and seas on silk or lacquer, laid the groundwork for Vietnamese painting to transcend national boundaries, expanding horizons for artists like Le Pho, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Gia Tri, and Nguyen Tu Nghiem in France. Additionally, it led to the formation of other prominent artist groups and individuals such as Nguyen Gia Tri – Nguyen Tuong Lan – To Ngoc Van – Tran Van Can and Nguyen Tu Nghiem – Duong Bich Lien – Nguyen Sang – Bui Xuan Phai,… Their iconic works, carefully selected, are featured in the auction catalogue, showcasing diverse aspects of a formative period in Vietnamese art.
Image 5: Left: Le Pho (1907 – 2001). Young Woman with Fan. Ink and powdered color on silk. Signed “lepho” and red seal lower right. 40.8 x 23 cm. – Right: Le Pho (1907 – 2001). In the Garden. Signed “lepho” and Chinese characters lower right. 65 x 50 cm
Moreover, the auction “20th Century Vietnamese Art” also delves deeply into the period of Resistance Art in Northern Vietnam, featuring many prominent artists. Despite the various upheavals in the history of Vietnamese art, figures like Luu Cong Nhan – Le Huy Hoa – Tran Luu Hau – Nguyen Trong Kiem and artists like Tran Dong Luong, Mai Long, Ngoc Linh,… stood out during this period. Their works mainly reflected realism, depicting the pulse of the era and the nation, while also highlighting a vibrant period of Vietnamese figurative art, with themes ranging from landscapes, people, to national defense and economic development efforts.
Image 6: Nguyen Trong Kiem (1930 – 1991). From left to right: Riverside, watercolor on paper 50 x 33 cm. Friends, watercolor on paper 45 x 61 cm. Reading child, oil on canvas. Signed in the lower left. 42 x 58 cm
Image 7: Tran Dong Luong (1925 – 1993). From left to right: Portrait of a young woman, pastel on paper, Portrait of a young woman, pastel on paper. Portrait of a young woman, ink and color on silk.
Tran Dong Luong specialized in portraits of young women, employing a distinctive technique that imbued the women in his paintings with a delicately refined, elegant charm… Their dresses, faces, and hairstyles were meticulously depicted with a touch of powder, a light breeze, and flowing hair that exuded a captivating allure, making each woman depicted by him appear beautiful through his artistic perspective.
Image 8: Tran Luu Hau (1928 – 2020). From left to right: Flowers, oil on canvas. Street, powdered color on paper, Village, powdered color on paper.
In the field of painting, Tran Luu Hau explored various genres but found a distinctive personal style from the late 1980s onwards. Previously, he often painted themes related to resistance, natural landscapes, rural areas, and urban streets of Hanoi, as well as still life,… From the late 1980s onwards, he used original colors with long, bold strokes, transitioning from realism to expressionism, focusing on freedom of thought, artistic conditions, and independence from external influences. Tran Luu Hau portrayed fundamental themes such as landscapes, seas, trees, flowers, and nude women with a minimalist yet powerful style, captivating viewers in an emotionally charged space.
Moving to the Southern region, by 1975, within just about 20 years, talented artists such as Nguyen Phuoc, Nguyen Trung, Nguyen Khai, Ho Huu Thu, and many others resonated, craving creativity and searching for new horizons amidst the aftermath of 30 years of fierce war in the country. They also contributed to the dynamic development atmosphere in Saigon after the return of peace, facing numerous challenges to enrich a prosperous, youthful, and modern art scene, as well as unprecedented creativity.
Image 9: From left to right: Nguyen Khai 1940 – Nguyen Phuoc 1943 – Nguyen Trung 1940
Image 10: Ho Huu Thu (b. 1940) Known as “Master of lacquer art in the South”
Included in the “20th Century Vietnamese Art” auction commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts by LE AUCTION HOUSE, these artists, through their selected works, have opened various doors to delve deeper into inner dimensions and tell rich, multidimensional stories.
Image 11: Diem Phung Thi (1920 – 2002). From left to right: Wood and brass sculpture from around 1970 – 1975. 65 x 56 x 54 cm. Aluminum and brass sculpture, dimensions 85 x 36 x 16.6 cm. Wood and brass sculpture, dimensions 30 x 23 x 76 cm.
Image 12: Dang Xuan Hoa paintings already covered major international auction floors
Image 13: Bui Huu Hung is considered a professional artist with international stature
Furthermore, the auction also features artworks by sculptor Diem Phung Thi, painter Tran Quang Tran, Nguyen Sien, Pham Thuc Chuong, Le Ba Dang, Le Van Xuong, Nguyen Huyen, Nang Hien, Tu Duyen, Truong Van Y, Tran Ha, Ngo Tu Sam, Nguyen Quang Mau, as well as selected works by contemporary artists emerging after the Doi Moi period such as Dang Xuan Hoa, Dinh Quan, Bui Huu Hung, Pham An Hai, Pham Luc, and many other prominent artists.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE “20TH CENTURY VIETNAMESE ART” AUCTION
Time
• Session 1: 3 PM on Saturday, July 27, 2024
• Session 2: 3 PM on Sunday, July 28, 2024
Register for bidding and bid online at: https://www.leauctions.vn/ | Direct bidding in English
Email: [email protected]
Support phone numbers:
A: +84.979.86.86.86 Lê Quang
A1: +84.942.33.44.66 Khanh Linh
A2: +84.912.88.00.77 Nguyen Tien Bac
