On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, LE AUCTION HOUSE is organizing the auction “20th Century Vietnamese Art” on Saturday, July 27, 2024, and Sunday, July 28, 2024. The auction features 350 diverse and curated artworks spanning significant periods of Vietnamese art history, marking a milestone event by a Vietnamese auction house following a Vietnamese-English dual model partnership.
Image 1: Victor Tardieu (1870 – 1937). A Good Book, 1904. Oil on canvas. Signed bottom right. 46 x 54.9 cm
The founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (L’ecole des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine) was a crucial turning point in Vietnamese art history. In 1924, with Victor Tardieu’s proposal to Resident-Superior Martial Merlin advocating the necessity for an art school in Hanoi, the Indochina College of Fine Arts was officially established. It began enrolling students in 1925 under the leadership of French painter Victor Tardieu. Over its 20-year history, the school nurtured a community of quality artists, elevating Vietnamese art beyond anonymity.
Image 2: Alix Aymé (1894 – 1989). Family and Animals. Ink and watercolor on silk. Signed “ALIX AYMÉ” in the center and red seal bottom right. 20 x 43 cm
Significant contributions to shaping Vietnamese art of this period must acknowledge French painters. They were writers, explorers, and photographers who came to Vietnam not only to explore the region’s culture but also made significant contributions in teaching art to Annamese people. Among them are prominent figures such as Victor Tardieu, Joseph Inguimberty, Alix Aymé, André Maire, and Evariste Jonchère. The auction features selected works by Joseph Inguimberty, Alix Aymé, André Maire, Henri Mege, curated by LE AUCTION HOUSE for art enthusiasts.
Image 3: Joseph Inguimberty (1896 – 1971). Landscape of Northern Vietnam. 34.5 x 43.5 cm
Drawing on knowledge from European art academies, the early graduates of the Indochina College of Fine Arts maintained a consciousness of their artistic mission. Artists educated at this school consciously infused native cultural elements into their works.
Image 4: Luong Xuan Nhi (1914 – 2006). Riverside. Ink and color on silk. Signed and red seal bottom right. 56 x 116 cm
It was these paintings of young women in áo dài, absorbed in reading, combing their hair, lost in thought, scenes of temples, villages, seas, on silk or lacquer, that laid the groundwork for Vietnamese painting to transcend national boundaries, expanding horizons for artists such as Le Pho, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Gia Tri, and Nguyen Tuong Lan abroad. Numerous notable groups and individuals like Nguyen Sang, Bui Xuan Phai emerged, their distinctive works reflecting various aspects of a pivotal era in national art.
Left Image 5: Le Pho (1907 – 2001). Young Woman with a Fan. Ink and powdered color on silk. Signed “lepho” and Chinese characters bottom right. 40.8 x 23 cm. – Right Image 5: Le Pho (1907 – 2001). In the Garden. Signed “lepho” and Chinese characters bottom right. 65 x 50 cm
Additionally, the focal point of the “20th Century Vietnamese Art” auction delves into the Resistance Art period in Northern Vietnam with prominent artists. Through various shifts in art history, figures like Luu Cong Nhan, Le Huy Hoa, Tran Luu Hau, Nguyen Trong Kiem, Tran Dong Luong, Mai Long stand out. Their works predominantly reflect realism, capturing the pulse of the era and the nation. They also illuminate a vibrant period in Vietnamese art, exploring themes ranging from landscapes, people, to the determination to defend the homeland and enthusiasm for national construction and development.
Image 6: Nguyen Trong Kiem (1930 – 1991). Riverside. Watercolor on paper. Signed bottom left. 33 x 50 cm
Image 7: Tran Dong Luong (1925 – 1993). Portrait of a Young Woman. Charcoal and colored chalk on paper. Signed bottom left. 55 x 80 cm
Moving to the South, until 1975, within just two decades, talented artists such as Nguyen Phuoc, Nguyen Trung, Nguyen Khai, Ho Huu Thu, and many others resonated, yearning for creativity and innovation amidst the aftermath of 30 years of intense war. They were integral in the resurgence of a rich, youthful, and modern art scene in Saigon, navigating unprecedented challenges.
Image 8: Ho Huu Thu (b. 1940). Birds, 1941. Oil on canvas. Signed bottom right. 43.5 x 33 cm
Featured in LE AUCTION HOUSE’s “20th Century Vietnamese Art” auction commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, these artists, through their curated works, have opened multiple doors to delve into inner realms, recounting multi-dimensional stories.
Image 9: Diem Phung Thi (1920 – 2002). Wood and copper sculpture circa 1970 – 1975. 65 x 56 x 54 cm
Additionally, the auction also includes works 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, and contemporary artists emerging post-Doi Moi era like Dang Xuan Hoa, Dinh Quan, Bui Huu Hung, Pham An Hai, Pham Luc, alongside other prominent artists.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE “20TH CENTURY VIETNAMESE ART” AUCTION
Time:
Session 1: 3 PM Saturday, July 27, 2024
Session 2: 3 PM Sunday, July 28, 2024
Auction registration and online bidding at: https://www.leauctions.vn/ | Live bidding in English
Email: [email protected]
Support phone:
A: 0084.979.86.86.86 Lê Quang
A1: 0084.942.33.44.66 Khanh Linh
A2: 0084.912.88.00.77 Nguyen Tien Bac
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