Footnotes

陳福緣
鹿
漆描金 木板
1951年作

簽名: Duyen 51 藝術家花押 (右下); 藝術家工作室印 (畫背)


Born in Hanoi, Tran Phuc Duyen was a renowned Vietnamese lacquer artist who worked in Vietnam, France, and Switzerland. In 1942, he enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine to specialise in traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting. After moving to France in 1954, he pursued his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris under Jean Souverbie (1891-1981). He later settled in Switzerland.

Duyen's passion for lacquer painting as well as his cross-cultural experiences led him to explore both European and Vietnamese landscapes in his art. Although the absence of suitable raw materials and weather in Europe made lacquer painting particularly challenging there, he held a lifelong desire to elevate this art form to the same level as Western oil painting.

After his first solo exhibition in Saigon in 1952, where he presented 30 lacquer works, Duyen went on to hold many more throughout his career, across Europe and Canada. In 2023, the Quang San Museum in Ho Chi Minh City held a retrospective exhibition in honour of the late artist, with most of the works being shown to the public for the first time. The exhibition presented works in large thematic groups, ranging from landscapes and still lifes to miniatures and abstraction.

This painting, titled Deer, depicts a peaceful woodland setting featuring three deer. Carved in relief, the animals stand out from the background and appear alive, ready to prance. The red background enhances the golden tones of the deer and vegetation, while the addition of gold paint adds a touch of elegance to the overall composition. Rich in detail and skill, the painting reflects Duyen's love of nature and beauty.

Through this painting, Duyen joins a group of important modern Vietnamese lacquer artists — including Pham Hau, Ngo Manh Quynh, and Thanh Le — who have explored the motif of deer in their art. A timeless source of inspiration in Vietnam, the animal has traditionally held profound symbolic meaning, representing grace, gentleness, and a harmonious relationship with nature. The depiction of deer by 20th century artists thus highlights their desire to incorporate traditional motifs into modern Vietnamese art.