Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Hanoi

Private Collection, South of France

This impressive bronze sculpture is characteristic of the Hanoi School of Fine Arts from the 1930’s. The execution and attention to detail is typical of the academic European styles, and shares similarities with the Art Deco period. The French painters introduced European anatomical drawing to the Vietnamese in the early 20th century, bringing a new aesthetic to the Vietnamese artistic expression. The sculpture reflects these aesthetics with the beautiful dark brown patina, and the quality of the finishing, as well as with the material. The work is an ethnographical subject matter, and represents two young Vietnamese boys in traditional costume.

The subject chosen by the artist is typical of colonialist art, with the precise and detailed description of indigenous populations and customs, while also highlighting the different cultures that existed abroad. With the Art Deco movement the ethnographic sculpture became a central element in decoration, much in the same way was a piece of furniture or a painting. At the Colonial Exhibition of 1931 in Paris, the Vietnamese art section featured works by artists like Lê Pho, Nguyen Phan Chanh, Le Van De and Vu Cao Dam, emphasizing the French presence in Vietnamese art.