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Tiếng Việt

This 49 th auction appears as a gesture of support from Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, an expert specializing in modern Vietnamese art, for the work of Vietnamese artists who graduated after 1945. Indeed, this generation is less frequently represented and promoted in the international auction market and deserves greater recognition for those pioneers who contributed to the rise of a school and who today embody the spirit of a generation shaped by cultural exchange.

« My choice as an expert for this beautiful composition by Hoàng Tích Chù on the cover aims to celebrate the revival of lacquer art in Vietnam during the 20th century. This view of Hanoi, created by this great lacquer artist, introduces a focus on works produced primarily in Vietnam. This lacquer piece is featured in the catalog of our 49th auction, which will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025. »

— Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, Associate Director in charge of Fine Arts and Asian Art

The artist depicts Kiều and Kim, the main protagonists of the masterpiece by the Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Du (1765–1820): Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều). In this novel, the young Kiều falls in love with Kim, whom she eventually reunites with after facing various trials of fate. This story inspired the artist Vũ Cao Đàm, who represented it multiple times, as seen in these two later versions, dated 1955 and 1965 (ill. 1; 2). Vũ Cao Đàm takes on this story, which resonates with Vietnamese people living in France and is also familiar to a Western audience: the jade ring exchanged between Kiều and Kim replaces the gold brooch mentioned in Nguyễn Du’s novel. It is noteworthy to highlight the áo dài tunic worn by Kiều, reflecting a fashion that appeared in Vietnam in the 1920s–1930s. This was a period of intellectual effervescence accompanied by a movement for women’s emancipation, particularly visible through clothing and fashion. Thus, the ensemble, traditionally composed of a long tunic and pants in dark colors, evolved into a garment with bright and light fabrics, more fitted and closer to the body.


Lot 1 - Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000)
Le rendez-vous, 1966


Lot 2 - Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000)
L'anneau de jade, Vence, 1954

The lithograph is a work of art in its own right, created by the artist. Rather than producing a drawing or painting, he drew his composition directly on a stone and then supervised the printing process. He checked and signed each copy, with his signature serving to validate the edition. The composition presented here was printed in 20 copies by Lê Phổ. The indication “HC” (Hors Commerce, or not for sale) signifies that this particular copy was originally reserved for his commissioner.


Lot 4 - Lê Phổ (1907-2001)
Fleurs de pommier dans un vase blanc

The Revival of Lacquer Art
Lacquer painting is a major art form in Vietnam, inseparable from the country’s cultural history. As a quintessential traditional art, it also shines abroad, making Vietnam a stronghold of this ancient technique. While this craftsmanship dates back to the 15th century, its current prominence owes much to the influence of Joseph Inguimberty, a professor at the Indochina School of Fine Arts from 1925, who introduced lacquer courses as early as 1927. Traditionally, only red, black, brown, as well as silver and gold were used. Thanks to the introduction of new materials such as eggshell, cadmium sulfide, and chrome oxide, other colors like white, yellow, and green began to appear. The efforts undertaken at the School of Fine Arts in Hanoi from this period enabled a true revival in the practice of this art form.


Lot 7 – Hoàng Tích Chù (1912-2003)
Rue de Hanoï, 1985

Nguyễn Trung was born in 1940 in Vietnam. Although he studied at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, he did not graduate, having not attended the final year courses. Very active on the Vietnamese art scene, he co-founded in 1966 the Association of Young Artists, an avant-garde artistic group in Saigon. Nguyễn Trung’s work can be divided into two phases: a figurative period followed by an abstract period. Young Nude Woman is typical of his first period, characterized by depictions of female figures with simple, delicate features and large eyes. This period is also marked by the use of bright colors. During his second phase, Nguyễn Trung moved away from figurative representation and vivid colors, turning towards a minimalist production focused on philosophical and existential questions.


Lot 8 - Nguyễn Trung (né en 1940)
Jeune femme nue, 1988

Born in 1920 near Hanoi, Bùi Xuân Phái belonged to the last generation trained at the Indochina School of Fine Arts, from which he graduated in 1945. Settling in Hanoi after the war, he devoted most of his work to depicting the Old Quarter (Phố cổ Hà Nội), capturing its narrow streets, historic facades, and melancholic atmosphere. Recognized late in life, he was posthumously awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 1996. A major figure in modern Vietnamese painting, his name remains inseparable from the poetic and timeless image of Hanoi.


Lot 9 - Bùi Xuân Phái (1920-1988)
Rue de Hanoï, 1986


Lot 10 - Bùi Xuân Phái (1920-1988)
Autoportrait sur fond de scène de théâtre

Trained at Viet Bac between 1950 and 1954, Trần Đông Lương quickly distinguished himself for his talent as a portraitist and draftsman. He adopted an academic style that gradually became more pronounced over time, making his work easily recognizable.


Lot 18 - Trần Đông Lương (1925-1993)
Jeune fille assise, 1985


Lot 21 - Trần Đông Lương (1925-1993)
Jeune fille accoudée, 1984

Upcoming Auction
Asian Painters: Modern Vietnamese Art
Thursday, November 6, 2025

Public Exhibition
From Monday, November 3 to Wednesday, November 5: guided tour by the expert, by registration, on November 5 at 11 a.m.
Free access daily from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to include a lot in our upcoming sales, contact
Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier - Expert
+33 1 41 92 06 49 – +33 6 63 58 21 82 – reynier@aguttes.com