黎譜

巴黎羅曼奈畫廊

The work is in good condition overall, as well as the silk, free from runs and holes. There are indications of minor wear and handling along with pin-size paint loss on the lower center (white scarf and blouse), but paint layers are well-preserved and stable. Examination under ultraviolet light shows no evidence of restoration. Examined within the Frame. Framed, under Plexiglas.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Le Pho has garnered international acclaim for his seamless blending of classical Asian motifs, paired with his knowledge of Western painting techniques. He is associated with the first wave of Vietnamese modern artists who emerged during the early 20th century, a period that coincided with the arrival of the Fine Arts College of Indochina (FACI) in the country. Under the tutorage of French artists Victor Tardieu and Josheph Inguimberty, the individuals who studied at the academy cultivated their own artistic voices, establishing what may be now acknowledged as the birth of the country’s modernist movement.

The artist’s oeuvre is demonstrative of this rich period in his country’s history. 20 years prior to the Vietnam Revolution, these few years of creative experimentation were extremely beneficial in Le Pho’s growth as a painter. Influenced by his heritage, the works are celebrations of Asian-inspired themes and subject matters. Women featured prominently within the paintings, oftentimes complimented by the presence of the natural environment. The present painting Elegant Lady by the Fence epitomizes the artist’s desire to portray what he deemed to be beautiful within his paintings.

Le Pho is widely respected for his skills in painting on silk, rather than on canvas as was the norm within the profession. A traditional handicraft respected by the Vietnamese and foreigners alike, the artist revived the medium when he re-introduced it into a contemporary setting. Painting on silk further enabled Le Pho to perfect his craft in expressionist styles, for the fabric enhanced the lighter colours, giving his subjects a luminous quality, as if they were lit from within. 

Le Pho’s favoured motifs were of animals in flight, such as birds and butterflies, perhaps to emphasize the nature of the women who inhabited the artist’s creative vision. However, within the present painting he has included a domestic animal in the composition. This may be reference Le Pho’s ancestry, for horses were celebrated in Chinese mythology for their gracefulness and agility. 

The woman in the painting represents the artist’s ideal of the feminine spirit. Gracefully holding the cup in her hand, the woman looks away into the distance, yet remaining aware of the man nearby who is saddling the horse. Le Pho’s collection of women are often depicted in mid-thought, their attention captured by something far away, and out of sight from the viewer’s gaze. A portrayal of life in the Vietnamese countryside, Le Pho’s painting celebrates a bygone era where simplicity and elegance exist side by side in harmony.