To explain, perhaps we have to see the work. Please take a close look at the picture. Information from Asium “A painting of Vietnam, the early 20th century, ‘Market scene’, watercolor on paper, from Indochina Fine Arts College, 88×34cm”, starting price 8-12K EUR.
VIETNAM, XXe siècle
Scène de marché
Encre et aquarelle sur papier
Travail issu de l’École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine
88 x 34 cm (à vue)
(tâches d’humidité)
VIETNAM, 20th century
Ink and colour on paper
Estimate : 8 000 € – 12 000 €
It must be said that we can’t see the signature in the painting (or maybe the signature is too blurry, can’t be seen) but this is a very beautiful and deep-in-life painting, created by an artist with good visual skills. This means it can be the work of a well-trained artist, from the Indochina Fine Arts College, for example.
The subject is not too new or strange. Just describing the trading activities of the northern countryside market in the early 20th century. The scene here is “selling crabs, selling each string of crabs”.
The framework is not the traditional “binary” size of the South; is not a normal one as the North, it is like a Chinese scroll, 88×32cm.
The painting has a style resemble some artists of that time. Specially, style of brushstroke ‘depict the face’ of the characters in ‘Market scene’ is quite similar to works of painter Nam Son (1890-1973). In addition, with a glance, the painting has meticulously drawn color patches in harmony, the ‘reddish brown’ color of Nguyen Phan Chanh (1892-1984).
Why did Viet Art View not think of the painting created by a French painter who came to Vietnam at that time. This is not excluded, but looking at all points in ‘Market scene’, it can be seen that ‘there are feelings about the personality, national nature and “products” that can only be created by a person, the very child of that nation’.
If that is also the ‘thought’ of Asium, it is too wise for them to put this price. In fact, there may be some documents about this painting that we don’t know yet. It will then be found. And maybe some collectors already have the information. And this painting will probably reach a very unpredictable price.
And that’s cool, interesting, that’s the mystery of auctions. This is always activating collectors and us, enthusiasts on the sidelines.
And we would like to conclude that this painting is very beautiful in terms of style and shaping; attractive, interesting by guessing, looking for information about the artist (with Viet Art View’s own view).
By Viet Art View
Copyright belongs to Viet Art View
