In 2019, in an auction at Christie’s Hong Kong, the silk painting ‘The fisherman’s family’ by artist Lương Xuân Nhị reached 4,685,000 HKD, equivalent to 14.2 billion VND.
Also in 2019, at Aguttes, his silk painting ‘Embroiderers’ reached the price of 526,760 EUR, equivalent to 13.7 billion VND.
In 2021, also at Aguttes, the painting ‘Knitting girl’ set a new record for the price of Lương Xuân Nhị’s paintings when it reached 756,440 EUR, equivalent to 19.1 billion VND.
Since the blockbuster ‘Knitting girl’, paintings of artist Lương Xuân Nhị have reached a new level, entered the list of the most expensive paintings of Vietnam to be auctioned.
On March 6, 2023, in the ‘Asian painters, major Works’ auction at Aguttes, there will be two silk paintings by artist Lương Xuân Nhị. The painting ‘Welcome Tết’ (lot 16), and the painting ‘Before Ngọc Sơn temple’, (lot 17), silk, were created around the 1970s.
Lô 16 – LƯƠNG XUÂN NHỊ (1914-2006). Welcome Tết. Ink and pigments on silk. 35,5 × 49 cm
Viet Art View was sent by Aguttes to a large, clear image file so that it can be viewed carefully in the assessment. After taking a look at the photo, sending the file to a few collector friends (who own Lương Xuân Nhị’s paintings) to see, they all give good feedback about the reliability of ‘Welcome Tết’ and ‘Before Ngọc Sơn temple’. And they will also participate in the auction of these two paintings on March 6, 2023.
In fact, in Vietnam, these two paintings (made on different materials) are known by many collectors.
The painting ‘Welcome Tết’ (lot 16) has an additional version of watercolor material, created in 1974 and called ‘Ô Quan Chưởng on the day close to New Year’, 1974, 50×70cm (Fine Arts Magazine No. 1&2/2020). Currently, there is still a tracing paper (used for tracing on silk).
The racing paper of ‘Welcome Tết’ by artist Lương Xuân Nhị. Material provided by the family of artist Lương Xuân Nhị.
Perhaps, is it possible that he used this tracing paper when painting on silk for Aguttes’ painting ‘Welcome Tết’ (lot 16) to be auctioned on March 6, 2023?
Painter Lương Xuân Nhị, painter Nam Sơn, painter Nguyễn Văn Tỵ during a trip to attend an exhibition in Japan in 1943. Documentary photo provided by Mr. Ngô Kim Khôi.
As for the painting ‘Before Ngọc Sơn Temple’, there is a version of oil with the name ‘Hồ Gươm on National Day’, created in 1970 (published in Lương Xuân Nhị ‘s book). But at present, no documents, images, and time have been found related to the creation of silk paintings for the painting ‘Before Ngọc Sơn Temple’ (silk painting in Lot 17).
LƯƠNG XUÂN NHỊ (1914-2006). Before Ngọc Sơn temple, Hà Nội. 38 × 52,2 cm
Lương Xuân Nhị (1914-2006) Hồ Gươm on National Day. Oil. 1970. The book ‘Lương Xuân Nhị’, Fine Arts Publishing House 2003.
After comparing the colour scheme, manner, and shaping of the two silk paintings above… along with thinking about the theme (socialist realism) of the works… along with multi-dimensional information and reliable professional comments, Viet Art View thinks there may be a basis to consider their authenticity.
Viet Art View also consulted on whether the estimated price of 80,000-120,000 EUR that Aguttes offered was reasonable with the current situation, and received two streams of sincere opinions. One thinks that the price is reasonable, even higher is also possible by the reason that paintings of Lương Xuân Nhị are rare. In Vietnam, the price of Lương Xuân Nhị’s paintings is already very high. Another opinion is that the price is too high for a silk painting of moderate size; not only that, the paintings are not old, the renewal real life theme is not too attractive, etc.
Thus, what the results of the predictions are, until March 6, 2023 will be answered after the auction. Regardless of the price, Viet Art View is sure that art lovers had the opportunity to admire two very beautiful silk paintings, with gentle style, soft manner, meticulous brushstrokes and the typical green colour scheme of artist Lương Xuân Nhị.
Written by Viet Art View
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