Provenance:
Wally Findlay Galleries, New York
Freeman's Auctions, Modern & Contemporary Art, including Works
from the Lehman Brothers Collection, USA, 1 November 2009, lot 354
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner
Private collection, Singapore
Bonhams, Southeast Asian Modern & Contemporary Art,
Hong Kong, 28 - 29 May 2022, Lot 25

ABOUT THE WORK

Le Pho’s art went through three distinct periods, and the strong shifts in subject, medium, and style between them were seen to be a testament to his versatility as an artist. His first period started in Hanoi and stayed until his early years in Paris. Le Pho created landscapes that reminisce his youth in Vietnam, each painting steeped with nostalgia and the historical magnificence of the country. His works in this period were perhaps a homage to the homeland which Le Pho left behind. Then, his Romanet Period came to light when he met the French gallery owner who became his major promoter. The period was named after the French man, and it would last until the 1960s. After some time, Le Pho signed a contract with the American gallerist Wally Findlay who introduced his works to the American market. This would mark the beginning of his final artistic period, also known as Findlay Period. His canvases, mostly painted in oil, were inhabited by Vietnamese women with elongated figures surrounded by lush landscapes. Le Pho pursued his Findlay Period with enthusiasm as he painted with a bright palette, depicting his usual muses and floral still life. (P.I.R.)