Vũ Cao Đàm

Truong Hanh, Painters of the Fine Arts College of Indochina, Hanoi, 1993, pl. 14.

Truong Hanh，《 中南半島美院之畫家》，河內，1993年，圖14

Cockfight is a vivid portrayal of a clash between two roosters. The painting showcases Vũ Cao Đàm’s typical style which blends a range of influences including the forms and perspective of Western art, Chinese aesthetics and Vietnamese silk painting traditions. In 1931, Vũ Cao Đàm was invited to display his work at the Paris Colonial Exhibition. During his first ten years in France, he focused on creating silk paintings. In 1949, he left Paris to settle in the French Riviera. The bright colours of Cockfight are representative of the artist’s work during his early years in southern France.

At its heart are two strong and sturdy roosters. The rooster on the left has a bright and splendid plumage, while the one on the right is elegant in white. The two birds’ necks are intertwined and their eyes remain fixed upon their respective opponent. The feathers on the ground reveal the ferocity of the fight. The brave and boastful stances of the handsome roosters are rendered with precise brush strokes, while the dark green tones of the background highlight the scarlet red cockscombs and magnificent, lifelike plumage.

Although most of Vũ Cao Đàm’s works are figure paintings, roosters were a beloved animal theme. For the artist, roosters were seen to symbolise bravery, selfconfidence, and a strong, masculine spirit. Cockfighting is a traditional pastime in Vietnam and its history in the country can be traced back thousands of years. Cockfights represented courage, strength and honour. Through this work, the artist provides the viewer with a window onto Vietnamese culture and an illustration of

the values of Vietnamese society.

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《鬥雞》生動活潑地描繪兩隻公雞交鋒的瞬間，展現武高談的典型風格，集西方藝術形式及視角、中國美學、越南絹本畫傳統等各方面影響於一身。1931年武高談的作品獲邀在巴黎萬國殖民博覽會上展出，其於法國的最初十年期間，專注創作絹本創作。1949年武氏一家搬離巴黎，安頓於法國蔚藍海岸。本作品色彩鮮豔明亮，為藝術家南法初期的創作代表。

本幅作品畫面中心為兩隻體態雄健的公雞，左方羽毛鮮艷華麗，右方潔白高雅。雙方頸部相互纏繞，目光緊盯著對方，地面上羽毛散落，可見競賽之激烈。武氏以精準的筆觸描繪出兩隻公雞雄赳氣昂的英姿，墨綠色調的背景更突顯種種細節，無論是鮮紅的雞冠或是華麗的羽毛均栩栩如生。

武高談的創作以人物為主，然而「公雞」為其鍾愛的動物主題。公雞被視為勇敢和自信的象徵，展現陽剛和男子氣概。鬥雞是越南一項傳統的消遣活動，根據歷史記載可能已經存在數千年。鬥雞賽代表著勇氣、力量和尊嚴。透過本幅作品，藝術家提供觀者一扇深入了解越南文化的窗口，彰顯越南社會的價值觀。