Under the Hammer

Vietnamese artists sought a new way of expression by taking traditional media and applying it to stylistically more modern work. As one of the oldest artistic traditions in Asia, the use of lacquer is an ideal way to combine modern painting with traditional techniques. With a distinctive colour palette and their own artistic expression, artists including Huynh Phuong Dong and Hoang Tich Chu adopted innovative and masterful approaches to depict picturesque scenes of Vietnamese landscapes, villages and daily life, subsequently creating a new visual identity to represent modern Vietnam.

In the run up to our inaugural auction of modern Vietnamese art in Paris on 14 December, we spoke to Senior Specialist Joan Yip about her top lacquer picks coming under the hammer.

Lot 13
Huynh Phuong Dong
Temple de Lang Ong Ba Chieu

Huynh Phuong Dong was born in 1925 in Binh Hoa-Gia Dinh (present-day Ho Chi Minh City). He graduated from the Gia Dinh Fine Arts School in 1945 and swiftly joined the army for the First Indochina War (1946-1954). After the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954, he continued his studies at the Hanoi Fine Arts College (1957-1963) and distinguished himself as a combat artist, creating sketches and drawings of battle scenes.

Located not far away from a crowded market in Ho Chi Minh city, Lang Ong Ba Chieu is the ancient tomb of General Le Van Duyet, a high-ranking mandarin of the Nguyen Dynasty, who laid the groundwork for the peace and development of Ho Chi Minh City. The tomb was erected after his death in 1832 to commemorate his significant contributions to the establishment of both the city and locals. In this painting, families and friends gather in traditional costumes in the meadow next to Lang Ong Ba Chieu. Some sit huddled under a tree, a mother in a red ao dai walks with her two children, a man poses for a photo in front of the temples, others simply stroll.

Huynh Phuong Dong is well known for his battlefield sketches, where characters, scenes and conflicts are rendered in great detail. This painting was created in 1987, one year after Vietnam opened up to the world, with a series of economic and political reforms. The artist chose this very significant childhood place to depict with elegance and finesse a Vietnam in the time of peace, populated by people with great love and hope for their country. Here the vibrant traditional lacquer red applied underneath the gilding doesn't represent violence. Instead, it gives a warm feel to the gold and enhances the whole picture along with the loose brushstrokes.

Lot 16
Hoang Tich Chu
Vue du delta du fleuve Rouge

Born in 1912 in Phu Luu village, Hoang Tich Chu graduated from the Fine Arts School of Indochina in 1941 and then worked as a professor at Hanoi University of Fine Arts until 1969. One year later, he was appointed Director of Hanoi Academy of Fine Arts, where he stayed until his retirement. He was one of the founders of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. Highly respected in Vietnam, his works were frequently and widely exhibited with national and international recognition.

Hoang Tich Chu was a famous lacquer painter who reinvented the art of lacquer painting, which had traditionally been used for decorative objects. He developed and adapted the technique using a European-influenced vision based on teachings he received from the Fine Arts School of Indochina. His lacquer paintings are rich in detail and the colour palette he used is vibrant and complements the traditional red, thus creating new visual effects.

Bay and river landscapes were a very popular and highly appreciated theme in Vietnamese lacquer paintings, often reproduced by artists or workshops. This painting was produced in 1985 when the artist was at the peak of his realism period. Being a true admirer of the nature of Vietnam, combined with his love of modern art and nationalistic painting style, the artist brought a new perspective to this scene near Hanoi. Here the traditional red has been replaced by blue and green-blue, the rocks depicted in different tones and shades highlighted with tiny pieces of eggshell. Adding to the realistic rendering of the painting, the sky and some areas are covered with gold, creating a dream-like quality.

Lot 31
Do Xuan Doan
Scène nocturne de quartier

Do Xuan Doan was born in Hanoi in 1937 and graduated from the Fine Arts University of Hanoi in 1961. He followed in the footsteps of fellow artists To Ngoc Van, Phan Ke An, Nguyen Gia Tri and joined the army during the war. Although the living conditions were difficult, he continued to produce mostly sketches at this time.

Do Xuan Doan's paintings are inspired by his surroundings and everyday life, featuring old houses, streets, and people milling around. The artist enhances his works with a shimmering colour palette and bold brushstrokes.

Lot 4
Anonymous
Retour du lauréat

Another beautiful lacquer featured in this auction is Retour du lauréat (or 'Glorious homecoming'), created by an anonymous artist. Historically, those who passed their mandarin exams would be honoured by the king. Following this, they would return to their village equipped with the necessary goods to conduct the ritual of honour called 'Vinh Quy Bái Tổ'. Often translated as 'Glory to the ancestors', the phrase holds a richer, more complex meaning: 'Vinh' means glory; 'Quy', return to the old place; 'Bái, the gesture of bowing or kneeling in respect; and finally, 'Tổ' refers to both ancestors and ancestral land.

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