Le Pho (Vietnam/United States/France, 1907-2001), "Fleurs," oil on canvas painting, laid to board, depicting a floral assemblage of Black Eyed Susans and other flowers in a polychrome decorated handled pitcher or vase. Vase rests on a table surface with loose papers, a lemon, and another object (possibly bread or cheese). Signed lower left in Chinese and script "Le Pho." Housed in a gilt hand-carved frame with linen liner and gilt fillet. Sight: 28 1/8" H x 19" W. Frame: 36" H x 26 3/4" W. Retains an original Wally Findlay Gallery label & Wally Findlay Gallery guarantee document dated November 2, 1970, available to the winning bidder.

Biographical note: Le Pho is celebrated for his unique style of painting, blending European influences including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism with Asian artistic traditions, especially Chinese painting. He was among the earliest graduates of the Indochina Fine Arts College, now Vietnam University of Fine Arts, which was set up in 1925 by French painter Victor Tardieu, a friend and colleague of Henri Matisse. Le Pho received a scholarship to study at the Paris National College of Fine Arts. In 1932 he returned to Vietnam to teach before setting off for Beijing, where he became immersed in Chinese artistic traditions. When he left China he had the artistic knowledge needed to develop his own particular artistic style with which he would make his name in France. By 1950, now living in Paris, Le Pho began working in oil on canvas, striking a delicate balance between Chinese painting and French Post-Impressionism. Yet the images he painted focus on traditional Vietnamese subject matter like bamboo branches, birds and especially women with flowers or wearing ao dai. (Biographical source: Vietnam News Agency).

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PROVENANCE: Private Mississippi Collection, acquired from Wally Findlay Galleries circa 1970.

CONDITION: Very good overall condition. Areas of craquelure with curling, especially upper left, 3 3/4" x 1 1/4", and center-right, 2" x 1/12", plus scattered areas of localized crazing and craquelure throughout, primarily to areas of impasto. With scattered, minor retouching, largest area to blue flower, lower left quadrant, 1/2" x 3/4.