Whenever we talk about art, about painting, about identifying careers, about prices (through public auctions) of famous artists, collectors and art lovers always have a common answer: They buy works of art because of personal feelings, because they love the artist, because they see their own past somewhere and because this is the culture of their country… Therefore, paintings by Vietnamese artists or foreign artists depicting Vietnamese people, society, and landscapes that are auctioned internationally are admired and sought after by Vietnamese collectors.
That is a very natural reason for any citizen of any country. They have national pride, they only care about what belongs to their homeland. For this reason, sometimes some auction houses, not knowing accidentally or intentionally, name some works that do not match the artist’s theme or content; distorting both places and people, making buyers (sometimes) fall into trouble if they haven’t researched carefully.
In 2019, during a auction at Sotheby’s, lot 289 was a lacquer painting by Alix Aymé, titled “Liseuse à Côté de l’Annamite (Girl Reading Next to the Annamite Mountains)”, created around 1930-1940. By chance, Viet Art View had seen documents about this painting on a reputable website specializing in Alix Aymé; which states: “Basque Paysage/Basque Landscape. Circa 1960. 46×70 cm”. Then, while accidentally visiting a dear friend’s house, Viet Art View saw this painting. The owner was very nice and warmly introduced: “This seems to be a painting of Sapa…”
The lacquer work of Alix Aymé at Sotheby’s written:
“Liseuse à côté de l’Annamite (Girl Reading Next to the Annamite Mountains)
The website about Alix Aymé wrote: “Paysage Basque”
If we look closely at every detail in the painting, we will hardly recognize the features of Sapa. Those houses, those tiled roofs, even the (shimmering golden) river winding between the architecture of the buildings and bridges, nothing at all about Việt Nam’s beloved Sapa. This is clearly an European landscape, even those tiled roofs are somewhat reminiscent of ancient roof architecture in Yunnan (China), where Alix Aymé lived for a time and has depicted in her works.
But on the part of the auction house, it is difficult to find fault with them, because the title of the work is “An Nam girl reading a book”, while the image of the young woman also has unknown anthropological characteristics and unknown ethnicity, she’s wearing modern clothes; Where she lying and reading, it’s not recorded. Because of such ambiguity, we wonder if the painting had the title “Landscape of Basque (France), created around 1960”, would it have been sold to a Vietnamese collector for more than 800 million VND?
TRẦN MINH THỌ (born in 1882 or 1922)
Village market scene
signed THO with seal mark
Lacquer on wood panel, in nine parts
Executed circa 1950
182 × 252 cm, 71⅝ × 99¼ inch
Estimate: 100,000 – 200,000 EUR
On November 7, 2023, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the collection of Prince Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc (1914-1990) will be auctioned. In addition to works by Lê Phổ and Vũ Cao Đàm, there is also a rare silk painting by Nguyễn Tường Lân. But what is curious and sought after in the auction is the large lacquer work titled “THO”. When the lots are posted on the website and printed in the catalog, the artist’s name is still blank. But considering the dimensions, the shape on the surface of the painting, the age of the work, and especially if the painting is in the collection of a prince, the price cannot be low. Probably from the above arguments, the auction house has estimated this work from 100k to 200k euros.
It can be said that this large lacquer painting received a lot of attention because of its hidden identity. It could be Trần Đình Thọ, Trần Văn Thọ or an artist with the name “Tho”… But it must definitely be a painting created by a very skilled artist.
We also know that the auction house may not have known the information at that time, but some people who have researched and have data on Vietnamese artists will soon find the artist’s identity, but will they give the information to anyone or just keep it to themselves?
That’s true then, a few days before the auction, the artist section was added “Trần Minh Thọ” (born in 1882 or 1922?).
Who is Trần Minh Thọ? Information from the auction house is as follows: The artist who painted the present lot has been attributed to Tran Minh Tho, the brother of lacquer artist Lê Thy (Tran Minh Thi, 1919 – 1961), who was one of the most respected lacquer masters of South Vietnam. As Tran Minh Tho dedicated his career to silk paintings for much of his career, such lacquer compositions by the artist are highly rare.
According to J. Gaultier De La Ferrière, Head of the Cultural Affairs Office of the French High Commission in Indochina, in the preface written of the exhibition catalog of Exposition de Laques – Peintures sur Soie Gouaches – Pastels, 3-10 December 1951:
“Il (Lê Thy) s’est, de plus, formé presque seul, en dehors de toute Ecole et, s’il a collaboré avec son frère, le peintre Tran Tho, dans la recherche de la technique indispensable à son art, sa personnalité s’est affirmée très vite. Tandis que Tran Tho, poursuivant en France sa carrière et possédant déjà une certaine notoriété dans les milieux artistiques, se spécialisait dans la peinture sur soie, les rudes disciplines de la laque attiraient surtout Lê Thy. Il exposa avec Tran Tho son frère, à Paris, à Monte-Carlo, à Nice, à Cannes, à Lucerne, en Belgique et tout récemment à Rome, à l’occasion de l’Année Sainte.”
An equivalent work introduced on the cataloque cover
of the exhibition EXPOSITION DE LAQUES – PEINTURES SUR SOIE GOUACHES – PASTELS,
organised by Lê Thy, from December 3 to 10, 1951,
including artists of Việt Nam
Finally, information about the artist with the signature “THO” was also found. Just being straightforward like this in the mode of progression and respecting Vietnamese art buyers will only make the reputation of the auction house more affirmed and loved. Because Vietnamese people certainly understand Việt Nam better than any other country in the world.
Written by VIET ART VIEW
Copyrights belong to VIET ART VIEW
