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Lot 17
Le Pho(1907-2001)La Couture
1965
1965
Amended
22 April 2021, 10:00 HKT
Hong Kong, Six Pacific PlaceSold for HK$1,127,500 inc. premium
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Le Pho (1907-2001)
La Couture
1965
signed; titled La couture and inscribed NEW YORK No40 on the reverse
oil on silk laid on board
73 by 50 cm.
28 3/4 by 19 11/16 in.
1965
signed; titled La couture and inscribed NEW YORK No40 on the reverse
oil on silk laid on board
73 by 50 cm.
28 3/4 by 19 11/16 in.
Footnotes
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by The Findlay Institute. This work will be included in the forthcoming Le Pho catalogue raisonné currently being prepared, under no. FG#21242.
Provenance
Artist Studio, Paris, France
Findlay Galleries, New York, January 1966
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in May 1966
Private Collection, New York, USA
Exhibited
Wally Findlay Galleries, le-pho: exhibition, April 21-May 20, Wally F. Galleries, exh. cat., New York, USA, 1972
*Please note that this lot is located in Hong Kong. Buyer is responsible to arrange shipping from present location of lot to buyer's desired destination. To enquire shipping quote, please contact singapore@bonhams.com.
Arguably one of the most famous and admired Vietnamese painters of the 20th century, Le Pho's oeuvre can be categorised into three distinct periods: Hanoi, Romanet and Findlay. The Hanoi period (1925-1937) covers the artist's formative years in l'École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in Hanoi and continues to his early years in Paris. The Romanet (1937-1963) and Findlay periods (1963-2001) covered Le Pho's mature years in Paris under the patronage of Gallerie Romanet and subsequently, Wally Findlay Galleries.
Le Pho had a privileged upbringing, as one can imagine growing up as a child of the Viceroy of Tonkin. At age 18, Le Pho was admitted into the first class of students to attend the Indochina School of Fine Art in Hanoi. From 1930, the young painter travelled to Europe where he discovered works of modern French painters as well as Renaissance artists in Italy. He moved to France permanently in 1937, and while his work undoubtedly displays both creative and innovative genius, he did not shy from crediting his influences to Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse.
In La Couture, Le Pho plays with the viewer's depth of field by blending foreground and background through loose brushwork and freely overlapping layers of paint unbound by outline. Colours are bright and sunny with predominantly pale yellow tones, giving a dreamy glow to the subject and illuminating the subject in a diffuse and hazy light. La Couture is exemplary of early Findlay period works of the artist, marked by a fresh colour palette and soft feathered brushwork that perfectly showcase the artist's versatility and masterful technique.
Saleroom notices
The certificate of authenticity issued by The Findlay Institute incorrectly stated the work was exhibited. This has since been amended.