黎譜

美國，私人收藏

The work is in good condition overall. Upon close observation, there is evidence of light wear and handling on the edges of the painting, along with minor foxing on the right cheek and neck of the woman. Examination under ultraviolet light shows minor spots of restoration sprinkled on the curtain (right margin), breast, neck (near collar), shoulder and arm areas (left register), bottom register (near the wrists), along with associated paint loss on the top right corner, the drape of the headdress (near white flowers) and on the back of the infant's head. The condition is not visible with the naked eye. Framed, under Plexiglas.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

縱觀黎譜的藝術創作，仕女一直是其中的重要主題，綴以大自然間的青蔥翠綠與生命力，更顯主角之婀娜多姿。幅幅畫作都如藝術家對女性百變特性之探索，而此作如題所示，滿盈母愛之美。

黎譜在二十世紀初對越南現代藝術運動具有重要貢獻，其對絹本畫的駕馭尤為出色。雖說絹本畫是越南特有的傳統，但黎譜更突破了技法的固有形式，對國家藝術傳承的影響至深。《母愛》彰顯畫家絹本畫工之精湛，用以表達這細膩題材，恰到好處。

黎譜的不少仕女畫幅都採用絹本，著意突顯女性的天澤優雅與亮麗美態。《斟茶仕女圖》（圖1）及《三浴女圖》（圖2）皆為此類柔美作品，仕女宛如精緻無暇的裝飾。 而這幅作品則與其慣常的美學表現略有不同，此畫讚頌的是母愛之純潔高尚，而非女性身體本身。

黎譜熟讀西方古典聖像學，深曉各種風格與符號象徵。此作取聖母與聖嬰像之經典構圖，為歷來無數藝術巨匠所採用，呈現母親與襁褓中嬰兒緊密不可分的關係，與達芬奇的名作《聖母與聖嬰像（麗塔聖母）》（圖3）頗為相似，但黎譜的畫幅中更顯家庭之溫馨。

母子感情，與藝術家和所畫對象間的關係，就如越南詩人胡春香（1772-1822年）所寫：「那時候，我們躲貓貓，我的手矇住我的臉，你的手矇住你的臉，不可思議地，我們各自走開了。這時候，我們躲貓貓，你手覆在我臉上，我手覆在你眼上，不可思議地，我們消失在彼此之間。」[1]黎譜把這種人類原始天性的聯繫表達得淋漓盡致。

通過《母愛》中母親哺乳這親暱時刻，我們一睹藝術家不多表露的文化價值觀。雖然「母子」這題材在黎譜的作品中並不罕見，但他們甚少顯得如此緊密。小男孩伸手抓向窗簾，滿足地閉著雙眼，小家庭的幸福在畫幅中昇華為無疆慈懷。

[1]〈日夜〉胡春香，PoemHunter.com- The World’s Poetry Archive，二〇一二年，6頁