Pham Hau (1903-1995) Lot n° 18

Village animé Lacquer with gold and silver highlights Screen with 5 panels Hauteur 110,5 cm - 43 1/2 in. Largeur des panneaux: 32.6 + 33 + 32.8 + 32.8 + 32.5 cm Width of the panels: 12 3/4 + 13 + 12 7/8 + 12 7/8 + 12 3/4 in. Full screen: 110.5 x 164 cm - 43 1/2 x 64 1/2 in. Phạm Hậu - the key craftsman artist of 20th century Vietnam - embodies the artistic revival of lacquerware. Lacquerware was for a long time considered as craft but Phạm Hậu has contributed to its recognition as a true art. Attached to the traditional heritage of his country, his works are based on ancestral know-how. Village illustrates the artist’s brilliance in combining tradition and modernity. Composed of a five-panel screen, Village uses the colors traditionally used in lacquerware: vermilion, auburn, gold. However, their application shows a certain modernity: the gold powder skillfully enhances the composition while the master lacquerer’s knowledge brings a unique depth and volume. Although this screen is displayed as a showcase for the artist’s talent, it is above all a true tribute to Vietnam. Through the representation of lush vegetation, Phạm Hậu recalls the prosperity and natural wealth of his country. Proud of his homeland, he does not hesitate to sublimate the humility of women at work in this predominantly rural country. The patriot Phạm Hậu offers here a unique representation where the symbiosis between human, nature and vegetation is remarkably harmonious.