Mai Trung Thu

Mrs Maï Lan Phuong, the artist's daughter, France

The painting is in overall good condition. There are a few pin-sized holes on the first panel (notably a small hole on the dress of the figure), second panel, and fourth panel (two small holes on the lower register). There are minor scuff marks and minor spots of foxing on the silk, particularly on the background but no apparent runs to the silk are evident. There is no evidence of retouching under ultraviolet light. Examined within the frame. Framed with original artist bordure and frame.
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Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980), one of the first graduates of the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts School of Hanoi, first developed his artistic pedigree via music, spending time as a student under the tutelage of a professional musician. After graduation, Mai Thu even performed in Paris with famous musicologist Tran Van Khe, where they were awarded the Special Record distinction for playing the Vietnamese monochord, the dan doc huyen.  These experiences of the sound were to later play an influential role in his life as a painter.

In this present work, Lot 283 Les Quatre Musiciennes (The Four Musicians), is a rare quadriptych piece that draws on Mai Thu's own personal artistic past. Displayed before us, four Vietnamese women playing different traditional instruments denoting love and romantic melodies. Another one of Mai Thu's thematic thread of women, children and music.