40 - Ⓟ PHAM HAU (1903–1994)

Ⓟ PHAM HAU (1903–1994) "The Cho Bo Rapids," circa 1940 Polychrome lacquered wood panel, highlighted with gold, silver, and crushed mother-of-pearl Signed and stamped by the artist in the lower right corner 100 x 200 cm Provenance: - French private collection. Work acquired in Vietnam in the 1950s by Captain R.L. (1921–2003), a former volunteer soldier from 1939 and member of the Engineering Works Directorate. Stationed in Hanoi from 1953 to 1956, he arrived in Saigon in January 1954 and was assigned to the Hanoi Military Command, where he served, among other roles, as director of New Construction and Fortifications. He was subsequently assigned to Cambodia. This work was shipped to France in 1954 and arrived at the port of Marseille. It has been in the family’s possession ever since and was passed down through direct descent. PHẠM HẬU (1903–1994) "Thác ghềnh Chợ Bờ," circa 1940 Multicolored lacquer painting on wood, accented with gold, silver, and ground mother-of-pearl Signed and stamped by the artist in the lower right corner 100 x 200 cm Provenance: - Private collection in France. The work was purchased in Vietnam in the 1950s by Captain R.L. (1921–2003), who had volunteered for military service in 1939 and was a member of the Engineering Corps. Stationed in Hanoi from 1953 to 1956, he arrived in Saigon in January 1954 and was assigned to the Hanoi Engineering Corps, where he held various positions, including Director of New Construction Projects and Defensive Works. He was later transferred to Cambodia. This work was shipped by sea to France in 1954 and arrived at the port of Marseille. Since then, it has been kept in the family and passed down directly through successive generations. This striking panel, created by Pham Hau during the 1940s, attests to the master lacquer artist’s remarkable technical and chromatic mastery. The composition is distinguished by the depth of its blues, whose subtle nuances interact with the other tones, creating delicate interplays of contrast and light. The art of lacquerwork reveals its full richness here, thanks to the layering of coats and the combination of colors that lend the surface a unique depth. Far from being limited to a decorative function, color plays a full role in the construction of the image and the balance of the composition. Through this bold palette, our panel illustrates the chromatic experiments conducted by Pham Hau during the 1940s, a period in which he explored the expressive possibilities of lacquer with great sensitivity. For a work with the same subject but featuring chromatic variations, see the Christie’s auction on June 14, 2023, in Paris, lot no. 4, whose color palette differs from that of our panel, which is characterized here by a predominance of bluish tones. This striking lacquer painting, created by Pham Hau in the 1940s, demonstrates the artist’s mastery of technique and color nuances. The composition stands out for the depth of its blue hues, in which subtle shades interact with other tones, creating gentle contrasts and a delicate play of light. The lacquer painting technique fully reveals its richness through the layering of multiple coats of lacquer and the blending of colors, giving the painting’s surface a unique depth. The colors here are not limited to a decorative function but also contribute directly to the construction of the image and the balance of the composition. With this bold color palette, the work illustrates the explorations of color tones that Pham Hau undertook in the 1940s, a period during which he sensitively explored the expressive possibilities of lacquer art. For a work on the same theme but with different color tones, please refer to Christie’s auction in Paris on June 14, 2023, Lot No. 4. The color palette of this work differs from that of the painting currently on display, which is characterized by a predominance of blue tones.