Henri Mège

The four works are in good condition overall. Indications of light wear and handling are evident around the edges of the four paintings, but the paint layers are all well-preserved. For the paper piece, there is evidence of discoloration sprinkled throughout the work, but the paper is free from creases. Framed, under Plexiglas. For the 3 oil on wood pieces, the conditions are good overall. The woods are all free from warping. Under ultraviolet light inspection, only the 1 oil piece (painting with one boat) shows minor signs of restoration, predominantly in the water around the boat and on the top left corner in the sky above the trees and houses. Framed.
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The French autodidact painter Mège grew up in the region of the Alps, and began a military career as an officer in the French cavalry. The artist fell in love with Vietnam when he was stationed there in the 1930’s. He married a woman whose father was the last Viceroy of North Vietnam, and was soon appointed Chief of the Imperial Cavalry Guard by Emperor Bao Dai. Henri Mège was also a drawing teacher at the French High School of Saigon therefore a frequent contributor, and friend of the artistic elite in the country. During his stay at Huê, the artist was acquainted with the Vietnamese painter Mai Thu. They quickly became close friends and confidantes. Coincidently, the Vietnamese graduated in 1930, and was hired as a professor at the High School in Huê.

The artist’s oil technique of using a filing knife to paint, and usually executed on a small format called pochade, was renowned in both the French and Vietnamese Salons, as well as exhibitions during the period of the 1940’s to the 1960’s. His interest however, mostly focused on the landscapes of the central and south regions of Vietnam. With exceptional dexterity of execution, Henri Mège’s balanced, and idealistic landscapes evoke the peacefulness of Indochina, and the lives of the peasants and fishermen. The characters are always depicted being in harmony with the magnificent landscapes.

The precision and accuracy in details is so accomplished, that the present day traveler may easy recognize the places that Henri Mège painted. His paintings are in the tradition of the French “topographic” painting genre where Indochina was the main subject, and included other artists like Gaston Roullet, Léo Craste and Louis Rollet. Contributing too many exhibitions in Vietnam, and abroad during his lifetime, Henri Mège was an exemplary model for the young Vietnamese outdoor painters that based their works on observation.