Nguyen Gia Tri's painting breaks international auction records

The oil painting, which exemplifies the elegance and depth of Nguyen Gia Tri's artistry, fetched a remarkable HKD16.1 million (US$2.07 million) at Christie's Hong Kong on March 29.

Tri, one of the founding figures of modern Vietnamese art, alongside contemporaries such as To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Tuong Lan, and Tran Van Can, is celebrated for his contributions to the development of the  Vietnamese fine arts landscape in the early 20th century.

This particular work is part of Philippe Damas' prestigious collection entitled "A Quest for Enternity" of 51 paintings by 32 artists, including 15 Vietnamese and 17 French masters.

The auction included works by famous Vietnamese artists such as Mai Thu, Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, and Nguyen Gia Tri as well as those by famous Indochinese painters such as Victor Tardieu and Alix Ayme. But it was the sale of Nguyen Gia Tri's "Les Trois Femmes" (Three Women) that truly stole the evening. This luminous oil painting, rare for the artist in both medium and execution, was a testament to his refined craft, unparalleled understanding of form, and timeless elegance.

The work portrays three Vietnamese women dressed in traditional garb, their faces softened by the folds of their turbans. One, a young woman, kneels in reverence before an older woman - perhaps her mother - a gesture that speaks to both generational continuity and deep-rooted cultural respect. This poignant narrative is rendered with an almost ethereal delicacy, reflecting the quiet dignity that is so characteristic of Nguyen Gia Tri's work.

According to Vietnamese art critic Ly Doi, "Les Trois Femmes" is an exceptional work in the career of Nguyen Gia Tri, who is best known for his mastery of lacquer painting. "The use of oil in this painting is a rare departure for him," he notes, "probably a reflection of his early training at the Indochina Fine Arts School under the guidance of his French teacher, Joseph Inguimberty. This early exposure to oil painting, coupled with the influence of his teacher's palette and techniques, is evident in the composition. Ly Doi also highlights the painting's exceptional preservation and clear provenance, both of which contribute to its immense value in the art world today.

The hammer price far exceeded expectations, positioning Les Trois Femmes as one of the most expensive Vietnamese artworks ever sold at auction. With this result, Nguyen Gia Tri's Les Trois Femmes now ranks fourth in the top ten most expensive Vietnamese paintings, behind Mai Trung Thu's "Portrait of Miss Phuong" ($3.1 million in 2021), Le Pho's "Family in the Garden" ($2.37 million in 2023), and Le Pho's "Shape in the Garden" ($2.29 million in 2022).

His innovative approach to composition - often creating monumental canvases with separate panels - became a hallmark of his style, combining the tactile richness of lacquer with a sense of ethereal beauty.

As the world's gaze turns to Southeast Asia, the art of Vietnam, with its unique combination of indigenous culture and European influence, is finding its rightful place in the global dialogue on modern art. The triumph of Les Trois Femmes at auction is both a tribute to Nguyen Gia Tri's legacy and a testament to the enduring allure of Indochina’s artistic heritage.