Series of Vietnamese Masterpieces Auctioned for Hundreds of Thousands of Euros
Mai Trung Thu’s En plein air sold for €828,420, while Le Pho’s Femme aux oeillets fetched €407,340 at the Aguttes auction.
The painting En plein air (Outdoors) by Mai Trung Thu was sold for €828,420 (over 22.3 billion VND), the highest price at Aguttes’ Asian Painters: Modern Vietnamese Art auction held on March 7. The event celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (now Vietnam University of Fine Arts).
Created around 1940–1945, the artwork portrays two women — one reading a book and the other seemingly lost in thought. Both wear elegant ao dai (Vietnamese traditional attire), with low buns and red lips, radiating sophistication. The artist incorporated distinctive Vietnamese elements, such as a handmade cushion and a wooden box for personal items.
According to the auction house, Mai Trung Thu meticulously washed the silk canvas multiple times to achieve its delicate texture and graceful lines. The painting also previously held the record at Aguttes’ Asian Artists: Major Works auction in May 2022.
Ranking second was Portrait de Madame Nguyen Nguyet Nga (Portrait of Madame Nguyen Nguyet Nga) by Mai Trung Thu, sold for €413,720 (over 11.1 billion VND). Painted in 1950, the work reflects a blend of Vietnamese and Western styles.
The portrait depicts Madame Nguyệt Nga as regal and elegant, wearing a purple ao dai, a pearl necklace, and a neat hairstyle. Behind her sits a vase of flowers and two books, including the story of Princess Ngọc Hoa, as noted by Aguttes.
Mai Trung Thu (1906–1980) was a prominent figure in Vietnam’s modern art scene in the early 20th century. A graduate of the inaugural class of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (1925–1930), he is celebrated as one of the “Four Masters of European-Inspired Vietnamese Art” alongside Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, and Le Thi Luu. He spent most of his life in France, where he developed a signature style centered on women, children, and everyday life, viewed through an Eastern lens.
Femme aux oeillets (Lady with Carnations) by Le Pho ranked third, fetching €407,340 (nearly 11 billion VND). The painting portrays a contemplative young woman seated on a chair, holding a flower. Aguttes praised Le Pho’s ability to evoke serenity through his harmonious use of color and soft, flowing forms, influenced by Italian art.
Le Pho (1907–2001), known as “Vietnam’s Master Painter in France,” achieved global acclaim for his depictions of women, with several works surpassing the million-dollar mark.
Fourth place went to Jeune femme au tricot (Young Woman Knitting) by Luong Xuan Nhi, sold for €311,640 (around 8.4 billion VND). The oil-on-canvas piece captures a woman in an ao dai and scarf, knitting peacefully. Aguttes noted the artist’s rich color palette and interplay of light and shadow to create a tranquil atmosphere.
Luong Xuan Nhi (1914–2006) is regarded as one of the key figures in 20th-century Vietnamese art history. In 1990, he was honored as a People’s Teacher and received the State Prize for Literature and Arts in 2001.
Marguerite au jardin jouant avec les poussins (Marguerite in the Garden Playing with Chicks) by Vu Cao Dam sold for €260,600 (over 7 billion VND), placing fifth. Painted in 1951, it depicts his niece Marguerite playing in their garden in Béziers, France. The serene image of her sitting on green grass surrounded by a mother hen and her chicks conveys a simple yet heartwarming moment.
Vu Cao Dam (1908–2000) was a leading Vietnamese painter and sculptor, known for his unique style blending Eastern themes with Western techniques.
Other notable works include Le Pho’s Fleurs (Flowers), which sold for €191,380 (over 5.1 billion VND). His vibrant Dan tranh — Dan co (Zither and Fiddle), painted in 1973, demonstrated his evolving style with bright colors such as green, chrome yellow, and coral orange, and fetched €186,304 (over 5 billion VND).
Femmes tissant le rotin (Women Weaving Rattan) by Nguyen Phan Chanh was sold for €164,000 (around 4.42 billion VND). Painted in 1960, it captures the rustic charm of rural life, celebrating traditional Vietnamese craftsmanship. Aguttes praised the earthy tones and interplay of light and shadow that add depth to the piece.
Nguyen Phan Chanh (1892–1984) was a pioneer of Vietnamese silk painting, leaving behind a legacy of over 170 works. His notable paintings include Choi o an quan (Playing Mancala) and Tien Dung va Chu Đong Tu (The Tale of Tien Dung and Chu Dong Tu).
Finally, Vu Cao Dam’s Les chrysanthèmes (Chrysanthemums) sold for €164,000 (over 4.4 billion VND). Painted in 1949, the work features chrysanthemums seemingly floating in mid-air, with soft colors like white, yellow, and pale blue evoking a sense of serenity.
Other noteworthy works included Le Pho’s La maternité (Motherhood), sold for €131,200 (over 3.5 billion VND), and Mère et enfant dans un jardin (Mother and Child in a Garden), which fetched €111,520 (over 3 billion VND).
