Footnotes

Provenance
New England private collection

The work has been authenticated by Yannick Vu-Jakober, daughter of Vu Cao Dam. According to her, this beautiful silk painting by her father dates back to around 1949.


The scarcity and rationing of metals during World War II constituted a significant challenge for artists seeking to procure materials for sculptural projects. The economic difficulties in France further exacerbated this issue, prompting artists such as Vu Cao Dam to seek more affordable and marketable alternatives, for example, silk painting. This shift in medium addressed practical concerns and provided an opportunity for artistic innovation.

In the late 1930s, Vu Cao Dam, along with fellow Vietnamese artists Le Pho and Mai Trung Thu, began to focus extensively on silk painting. They showcased their collective works in Paris and in other locations, garnering considerable recognition. Their goal was to reinvigorate Indochinese painting while preserving its integral attributes. By incorporating elements of Western painting, they achieved a balanced synthesis that appeared both natural and seamless.

Vu Cao Dam was a Vietnamese painter and sculptor who undertook his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in Hanoi before relocating to France. His work is distinguished by a harmonious fusion of traditional Vietnamese motifs and Western techniques. His silk paintings are particularly noted for their exquisite and refined quality. The use of silk as a medium enabled him to create a soft, luminous effect, thereby enhancing the ethereal and poetic nature of the subjects depicted. His colour palette typically features gentle, muted tones, which imbues his work with an overall sense of serenity and elegance.

This painting titled Chrysanthemums by Vu Cao Dam portrays a striking arrangement of white chrysanthemum flowers set against a deep, muted background. Against this backdrop, the prominent, feathery petals of the chrysanthemum blooms stand out, emphasising their natural beauty and delicate structure that is emblematic of the flower. The leaves are rendered in various shades of green with touches of brown, further adding depth and contrast to the composition.

Vu Cao Dam's silk paintings from the early 1950s are held in high regard for their delicate and intricate beauty. This chrysanthemum painting provides an excellent testament of Vu Cao Dam's capacity to draw inspiration from traditional Vietnamese art and culture, whilst embracing a modernist style. The result is a work of art that evinces both timelessness and a contemporary flair, showcasing the artist's technical skill and his profound appreciation for the natural world. This painting serves not only to exemplify the artistic ability of Vu Cao Dam, but also his talent for evoking tranquillity and sophistication though his work.