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a painting of flowers in a vase on a red chaira painting of flowers in a vase on a red chairPhoto 3/4 du lotPhoto 4/4 du lot
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66 - LE PHO 1907–2001 FLORAL COMPOSITION Ink and colours on silk,…
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Estimate €40,000 - €50,000
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Description
LE PHO 1907–2001 FLORAL COMPOSITION Ink and colours on silk, mounted on card and laminated onto hardboard Signed lower left Signs of wear and soiling 91 x 50 cm Provenance: - Bears a label on the back of the panel from the Galerie Romanet, 18 Avenue Matignon, Paris, and inventory number LE PHO No. 21-315-30 M. - Private collection, Strasbourg A certificate confirming the authenticity of the work, issued by the artist’s heir, Mr Alain Le Kim, will be provided to the purchaser. The export licence for the painting has been issued by the Directorate of Musées de France. This will be handed over to the buyer upon full payment for the lot. This lot is not available for live bidding. To bid, please contact the auction house on 04 93 99 33 49. Registration is compulsory prior to the sale, subject to a security deposit. LE PHO (1907–2001) Born on 2 August 1907 in Hàdong, northern Vietnam, into a family of intellectuals, Lê Phô – son of the last viceroy of Tonkin – was orphaned at a very young age, having lost both his father and mother. He passed away in Paris in 2001. His sensitivity to ‘beauty’ and ‘the graphic arts’ led him at a very early age to the Hanoi School of Fine Arts, where he met his mentor, Victor Tardieu, one of the institution’s founders and its director. Lê Phô travelled extensively, both in Europe and Asia (Beijing, Huế). It was during these journeys that he drew his inspiration. His body of work can be divided into three main periods, each corresponding to distinct styles within a political climate and historical context that varied from one period to the next. The first period, spanning roughly 1920–45, comprises the artist’s early works, in which his already recognisable style remains classical and Asian in its treatment of subjects and technique. The second period, known as the ‘Romanet period’ (1945–62), takes its name from the gallery owner who exhibited Lê Phô’s works for many years. Finally, the third period, known as the ‘Findlay period’ (1963–2001), refers to the Wally Findlay Gallery in the United States, which exhibited the artist’s works during this time and until his death. Floral compositions, a central theme in Lê Phô’s work: ‘The Floral Composition’ presented here for sale perfectly illustrates the artist’s style, characterised by his deep attachment to flowers. In his work, bouquets of flowers, much like his depictions of motherhood, embody serenity, poetic harmony and a certain nostalgia. Here, the bouquet rests on a red table, which in turn stands on a diamond-patterned floor that Mr Alain Le Kim (the artist’s son) immediately recognised as that of the family home. The viewer thus unwittingly shares a glimpse into the artist’s private world. The floral arrangement, as the main subject with no view to the outside world, lends the scene a sense of timelessness. Only the book, left open in the background, suggests an indirect human presence, like a narrative momentarily interrupted, inviting the viewer to imagine the rest of the story Western influence and the affirmation of Vietnamese identity The use of silk painting, a traditional Vietnamese art form, and the mastery of oil painting reflect the training received by the artist, a graduate of the Hanoi School of Fine Arts. The choice of a palette of warm, luminous colours such as beige, ochre, white, yellow and orange-red lends the work its full poetic dimension. The exuberant bouquet at the centre, on its own, creates a warm, rustic and soothing atmosphere. Lê Phô is an artist now recognised as one of the great masters of modern Vietnamese painting. We are delighted to be able to showcase, through this auction, this renowned artist whose market value reflects his talent. Expert: Johanna Blancard de Léry, Ansas, Papillon & de Léry – Paris
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About the sale ARTS PASSION – Modern paintings | Contemporary art | Decorative arts | Asia | Leather goods | Photographs
Auction location
Auction time 08/15/2026 at 2:30 PM
Lot description modified on 07/21/2026 at 10:01 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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