LES RIZIERES TONKINOISES COULENT À DROUOT
École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine. Class of 1934
Rice Fields of Tonkin
Large polychrome and gilt lacquered wood panel
100 × 150 cm
(Minor knocks to the upper section)
Provenance: Private French family. Two other panels by the artist remained in the same family collection.
Born in Han Dong province, Pham Hau entered the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in 1929, graduating in 1934. Under the guidance of Joseph Inguimberty (1896–1971), he trained in the art of lacquer and quickly established himself as one of its foremost masters. Rooted in an ancestral tradition deeply inspired by nature, his meticulous technique and refined chromatic palette pay constant tribute to the landscapes of Tonkin, which he so cherished.
Here, the artist presents a majestic masterpiece, emblematic of this tradition of nature. Rice Fields of Tonkin reaffirms his complete command of lacquer technique through its subtle interplay of light and the finesse of its execution. With poetic sensitivity, Pham Hau captures the shimmering reflections of water, creating depth and luminosity across the composition. Delicate gilt highlights trace the contours of the Tonkinese paddies, infusing the lacquered surface with radiant light.
A composition of remarkable sophistication, the eye is guided along the rhythmic terraces of the rice fields toward a golden palisade evoking the soaring karst mountains that define the Tonkin landscape. Of rare delicacy, this work expresses the artist’s profound attachment to the landscapes of northern Vietnam and to the subtle symbolism they embody.
Sale at Hôtel Drouot, 10 March 2026, Room 5
Estimate: €40,000 / 60,000