Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000), “Maternal love”, 1944
Ink and colour on silk, signed lower right, in the original frame, Dimensions: 60 × 46,4 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Paris (Purchased in 1940s)
Private collection, Paris (Inherited from the previous owner)
We are very honored to introduce to you the beautiful work of Vu Cao Dam that will be auctioned on May 22. The painting was created in 1944, and is a combination of traditional painting of Asia-Europe, at the height of the artist’s career.
Vu Cao Dam chose “maternal love” to illustrate the special moment when a mother breastfeeds her child. Although this theme dates back to ancient Egypt – through statues of Isis breastfeeding her child Horus – and is present throughout the development of art history, it is still rare to see in Asia.
Besides statues and religious images of Mary and Jesus, images of women breastfeeding are also an artistic subject that often appears in everyday life in the West. Therefore, in modern painting, Renoir, Picasso or Mary Cassatt always honor maternal love regardless of social class. The painting we introduce here, made by Vu Cao Dam in 1944, is one of the rarest pieces of evidence.
In this painting, pastel tones bring gentleness, with nature and peace emphasized by the landscape where the mother is breastfeeding her child. The artist’s signature is written in pink stands out in the lower right corner.
ASIAN PAINTERS
CHINA, VIETNAM
The 43rd auction: May 22, 2024
Contact: reynier@aguttes.com
Source: Aguttes
