The sculpture, entitled Jeune fille annamite, testifies to Minister Paul Reynaud’s interest in the work of artists trained at the Indochina School of Fine Arts, an institution founded in Hanoi by Victor Tardieu.
The two met at the Colonial Exhibition, held in Vincennes from 6 May to 15 November 1931. Arthur Kruze, acting director at the time, organised an exhibition in honour of the visit of the Minister for the Colonies. The Minister visited Hanoi in November 1931. As a result, Paul Reynaud was able to see Vũ Cao Đàm’s work both in Paris and in Hanoi from 1931.
This bust offered for sale today by Aguttes has a remarkable green patina. It is the model that entered the collection of Paul Reynaud in 1932, an art lover who was sensitive to the sculptor’s talent. Vũ Cao Đàm succeeded in giving an inner life to his faces, and this ability to transcend the material to express deep feelings characterises his work.
On various occasions during the 1930s, several exhibitions presented this model by Vũ Cao Đàm, produced in a few rare examples. Today, some of these pieces can be found in some of the world’s greatest public and private collections, and they continue to contribute to his reputation.
VŨ CAO ĐÀM (1908- 2000)
Jeune fille annamite, le modèle Paul Reynaud
Bronze with green patina, signed on the base on the left side
37 x 15.8 x 19 cm – 14 5/8 x 6 1/4 x 7 1/2 in.
A certificate of inclusion in the artist’s forthcoming catalogue raisonné, currently being prepared by Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier for the Association of Asian Artists in Paris, will be provided to the buyer.
Provenance: Collection of Minister Paul Reynaud, France (acquired directly from the artist and passed down through the family ever since)
Lot 10, ASIAN PAINTERS, MODERN ART OF VIETNAM
The 43th sale: May 22, 2024
Contact: reynier@aguttes.com
