Among the standout sales was the silk painting “Couple avec éventail sous un cerisier en fleur” (Couple with a Fan Under a Cherry Tree in Bloom) by celebrated Vietnamese artist Mai Trung Thu (1906–1980), which sold for US$768,000, double its pre-sale estimate. The piece exemplifies the artist’s delicate technique and poetic vision, making it one of the highlights of the auction.

Silk paintings by other renowned Vietnamese masters also drew significant attention. Le Pho (1907–2001) saw strong results for two works - “Composition”, an oil on canvas, fetched US$425,000, far exceeding expectations, while “Pommiers en fleurs” (Apple Trees in Bloom) was sold for US$213,000.

Works by Vu Cao Dam (1908–2000) also performed well, with “Composition” (1978) selling for US$262,000, and “Maternité” (Mother and Child, 1957) achieving US$106,000, twice its estimate.

The auction was part of Indochine, a special online session curated by Sotheby’s to spotlight 20th-century Vietnamese fine art. The session featured 49 works, including paintings, lacquerware, and sculptures, primarily by the first graduates of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, an institution credited with laying the foundation for modern Vietnamese art.

Founded 278 years ago, Sotheby’s is one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses, with headquarters in London and offices in New York, Hong Kong, and Moscow. The strong showing of Vietnamese art at this event underscores growing international recognition for the country’s rich artistic heritage.

Three Vietnamese paintings fetch over EUR 1 million each at French auction

VOV.VN - Major works by renowned artists Mai Trung Thu and Le Pho captured strong interest at a special auction held recently by Aguttes, a French auction house, in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Indochina College of Fine Arts).