VU CAO DAM (1908-2000). École des Beaux-Arts... Lot 141

VU CAO DAM (1908-2000). École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine - Class of 1931. The message of love or the legend of Thúy Kiêu. Painting on framed silk, signed lower left. Dimensions: 31x20.5 cm (view). Vu Cao Dam delivers here a touching painting of great tenderness for an unusual subject in his work. While his favorite theme has always been young women and maternity scenes, the depiction of subjects from traditional poetry has also been a great source of inspiration for him. The Legend of Thúy Kiêu is considered Vietnam's most famous and important literary work, written in the 19th century by Nguyen Du (1765-1820). The plot, which has similar occurrences in Chinese texts, tells the story of an elegant and talented young girl who, while out for a walk, meets her soul mate Kim Trong. Living out their passion in the greatest secrecy, the two young lovers promise each other eternal love. However, driven to the brink of ruin by her family, Thúy Kiêu chooses to sacrifice herself and is forced to renounce her vows. Enslaved for 15 years, she never forgets her encounter with Kim Trong. Following a series of twists and turns, and after taking refuge in a Buddhist temple, the young woman, now a nun, is reunited with her lost love. Marrying the man to whom she had promised eternal love, she honors her vows by remaining chaste beyond her feelings. The work thus represents the episode of the walk. Using a simple, uncluttered composition, the artist has placed the young woman at the center of everything, occupying almost the entire support. Dressed in a blue Ao dai that stands out against a colorful background suggesting vast expanses of red and yellow flowers, Kiêu is shown seated next to a tree, which she embraces with her left arm. But has she already met the man of her dreams? There's every indication of this, as Kiêu, holding a stylus in her right hand, engraves a message on the trunk, possibly expressing her eternal love for the young student. The two teapots in the background, in addition to the one beside the tree trunk, seem to confirm this hypothesis. Their presence, however, raises questions. Tea culture in Vietnam, or trà, is deeply rooted in customs. This beverage, reputed to purify the spirit, is considered a symbol of conviviality and hospitality. As the saying goes: "Tea is the beginning of all conversations"...