MAI trung THU (1906-1980)

Lot 7
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Estimation :
80000 - 120000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 271 560EUR
MAI trung THU (1906-1980)
L'écharpe bleue, 1942 Ink and color on silk, signed and dated lower right, monogramed and titled on the back 30,5 x 22 cm - 12 x 88 11/16 in. From the collection of Princess Hàm Nghi in Algeria, this young woman’s elegance is undeniable. Hàm Nghi, the prince of Annam, had been in exile in Algeria since 1888 following an uprising against the French presence in Tonkin. He discovered a gift for painting and a passion for Fine Arts. Thus, he got in touch with many artists, among whom Georges Rochegrosse, Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin... He painted, sculpted and collected works of art. In 1904, he married Marcelle Laloë, the daughter of the president of the Court of Appeal of Algiers, who gave him 3 children. The Prince and the Princess of Annam met Mr. X when they built the villa Gia Long in El-Biar. The Prince died in 1944 but Mr. X and his family remained close to his widow and children. The Princess of Annam offered him the painting of Mai Thu, acquired at the Galerie d’Art Pasteur in Algiers, as a token of her friendship and as a reward for many services. She then resided in the family castle in Périgord until her death in 1974. While the descendants of Mr. X will settle for their part in the South-East of France. If female beauty has always inspired artists, it is Mai Trung Thu’s favorite subject. Using a composition devoid of artifice and a sober palette, the artist pays tribute to femininity while celebrating the natural beauty of the model. The very thin black border contributes to the delicacy of the composition. Moreover, the charm of this work is reinforced by the movement that exists in it. A sense of roundness is created by the different undulations of the model, echoing the movement of the veil. Participating in the harmony of the composition, the floating branches surround the young woman in a pyramidal construction. The clarity of her complexion stands out brightly against her black garment and the green background, while her veil, almost airy, highlights her deep black hair. The straight lines of the frame contrast with the oval of this soft face. The strength of the girl’s gaze emphasizes this sophisticated atmosphere, while celebrating female beauty in its simplicity.
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