Vũ Cao Đàm (1908-2000) Lot n° 28

Les lys, 1963 Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right 65 x 54 cm - 25 1/2 x 21 1/4 in. The lily, symbol of royalty, adorning the arms of the kings of France since 1179, also evokes whiteness, purity, innocence and virginity. By depicting these flowers, Vũ Cao Đàm offers a testament to his multidisciplinary talent. Although he graduated top of his class in the sculpture department, the artist gradually changed his way of expression to painting. While he is now primarily known for his depictions of maternity or landscapes, Vũ Cao Đàm also excels in the reproduction of still life. Adopting a tight framing that he likes, the artist draws up a modern representation thanks to a brushstroke made of juxtaposed flat tints but also to a subtly chosen restricted palette. The sober background retains only the essential and contributes to the modernity of the composition. If the full, round shapes recall his primary predilection for sculpture, these lilies illustrate Vũ Cao Đàm’s range of talents, sublimating these flowers whose significance has spanned centuries.