Footnotes

Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in Vietnam in 1988.
Private collection, North America.

阮康
牧馬圖
漆、金及銀箔 木板
約1985年作

簽名：Ng Khang（右下） 鈐印（兩鈐）（右上）

來源
現藏家於1988年得自藝術家本人
北美私人收藏

*The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Nguyen Thai Dung, son of Nguyen Khang.


The painting Horse Herders, circa 1980s, presented in this auction is one of a series by artist Nguyen Khang. This painting, like Fishing under the Moonlight, features bare-chested men in red loincloths and headscarves. The meticulous depiction of the male figures conveys both depth and decisiveness, despite the softness that characterises the artist's work. The horse herders depicted in various poses demonstrate their proficiency in handling the six white horses. The black lacquered surface of the painting conveys the story in a layered triptych space. The contrast of the two main colours – red and finely ground, bright gold – makes the painting both easily understandable and visually captivating.

According to the artist's family, the first painting in the Horse Herders series, titled The Horse Herders Family, was created in 1958, shortly after Nguyen Khang's return from China. Following a period of cultural exchange in China that was both educational and inspiring, Khang returned to Vietnam with a renewed artistic vision. During his time in China, he had been exposed to a wealth of traditional Chinese art, and this period of cultural exchange surely left a lasting impression on Khang, influencing his subsequent works.

This series of paintings stands out as a testament to Khang's artistic evolution and his exposure to diverse cultural influences. One of the most intriguing parallels can be drawn between Khang's Horse Herders and Zhao Mengfu's Bathing Horses in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing (fig. 3). Zhao Mengfu (1254–1322) was a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher of the Yuan dynasty, celebrated for his elegant brushwork and contributions to the literati painting tradition. Both paintings depict horses and their herders capturing the dynamic interaction between humans and animals. The serene natural settings in these works emphasise the harmonious bond between humans and horses, a theme that resonates deeply in both Vietnamese and Chinese cultures. This shared motif highlights the universal appreciation for the relationship between man and nature, and the tranquillity that such scenes evoke. Khang's scrupulous attention to detail and innovative use of lacquer techniques bring a unique vibrancy to Horse Herders, while Zhao Mengfu's elegant brushwork and fluid lines in Bathing Horses showcase the grace and movement of the horses. The similarities in subject matter and the serene ambiance of both paintings suggest a fascinating dialogue between the two artists, reflecting their mutual respect for the natural world and its depiction in art.

The Horse Herders series is also part of Nguyen Khang's series on labour. With this theme, Nguyen Khang explored nearly all the possibilities of composition and figure depiction. Horses usually dominate the composition, tended by one or more figures. Decorative details including reeds and water waves were also illustrated. In other paintings with similar compositions, he added fish under rippling water or clusters of flowers among the reeds. These works were given different names such as Fat Horses and Fragrant Flowers or The Horse Herders Family. While they may initially appear to be variations of the same work, each piece is, in fact, a unique creation, with the artist modifying details to align with the specific title. For a rare and refined variant of this subject, see Horse Breeder (fig. 4) in the Quang San Art Museum collection; and The Horse Herders Family (fig. 5) in the Nguyen Khang family collection.

Bonhams would like to thank Bùi Hoàng Anh – Art Director from Viet Art View for her research and contribution to this article.