TRAN VAN THO (1917-2004)
Going to the Tet market, around 1950 – 1960
Watercolor on silk
Sign and stamp in the lower left corner
33 × 46 cm
Tran Van Tho was born in 1917 in Bac Ninh. He is an artist specializing in silk paintings (water paintings), many times displaying silk paintings at exhibitions in Hanoi and Saigon. He graduated from Hanoi College of Fine Arts (year unknown). Before 1954, he and painter Nguyen Van Que went to Cambodia to teach. Since 1954, he has taught silk painting at the Saigon National College of Fine Arts. He settled in France in 1981 and died in 2004 in Salon-de-Provence, France.
Tran Van Tho is a son of his hometown Kinh Bac. Therefore, in his mind, Quan Ho folk songs, ancient folk customs and practices, scenes of daily activities such as going to the market, pagoda ceremonies, shepherds, and mothers are always sources of inspiration for composing. . Most of the landscape, architecture, and people originate from Bac Ninh – Kinh Bac. He was especially successful with this topic, creating a unique artistic personality.
The painting depicts a group of people including men and women of various ages. One person is carrying a pair of baskets containing votive offerings; One side holds a paper horse, the other side holds a paper doctor. Another character is carrying thick rectangular blocks that look very much like money or votive papers. The man (seemingly older) tied his head with a warm scarf (it was cold), carrying a peach blossom branch on his shoulder. The remaining characters, who carry baskets (rice, corn) with red and green bougainvillea branches, are placed in them; or there are fruits in baskets. The top of a little boy’s peach is peeking out, holding a folk painting of a pig in his hand. All of the above details are directly related to items for Tet. Therefore, the theme “Going to the Tet market” is probably suitable for this work. The cheerful and happy atmosphere is expressed in the joyful appearance of rhythmically moving shapes. The painting is a warm message about village love, neighborliness, and community cohesion; imbued with the humanity of the Vietnamese people.
TRAN VAN THO (1917-2004)
“Portrait of a Baby”, 1951
Watercolor on silk
Signed, stamped and dated in the lower right corner
31 × 21 cm
For more information, please contact:
- Ta Hsi CHANG
- tchang@millon.com
- +33 1 47 27 93 29
Millon Vietnam Hotline +84 706430688
Email: info@millon-vietnam.com
