16. HOANG TICH CHU (1912-2003) Vue du delta du fleuve Rouge 1985 signé Tich, daté 5-85, avec inscription MON NGAI SÔNG DA (en bas à droite) laque, coquille d'oeuf et décor or sur panneau en bois 60.5 x 91 cm (23 1/4 x 35 7/8 in.) HOANG TICH CHU (1912-2003) View of the Red River Delta 1985 signed Tich, dated 5-85, inscribed MON NGAI SÔNG DA (lower right) lacquer, eggshell and gilding on wood panel Provenance Formerly in the collection of a European diplomat in Vietnam in the 1980s, acquired directly from the artist in November 1986 Born in 1912 in Phu Luu village, Hoang Tich Chu graduated from the Fine Arts School of Indochina in 1941 and then worked as a professor at Hanoi University of Fine Arts until 1969. One year later, he was appointed director of Hanoi Academy of Fine Arts, where he stayed until his retirement. He was one of the founders of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. Highly respected in Vietnam, his works were frequently and widely exhibited with national and international recognition. Hoang Tich Chu was a famous lacquer painter, he reinvented the art of lacquer painting, which had traditionally been used for decorative objects. He developed and adapted the technique using a European-influenced vision based on teachings he received from the Fine Arts School of Indochina. His lacquer paintings are rich in details and lyrical. The colour palette he used is vibrant and complements the traditional red, thus creating new visual effects. Bay and river landscapes were a very popular and highly appreciated theme in Vietnamese lacquer paintings, often reproduced by artists or workshops. View of the Red River Delta presented in the sale was created in 1985, the artist was at the peak of his realism period starting from 1954. Being a true admirer of the nature of Vietnam, combined with his love of modern art and nationalistic painting style, the artist brought a new perspective on this scene near Hanoi that he was familiar with. Here the traditional red has been replaced by blue and green-blue, the rocks detailly presented in different tones and shades highlighted with tiny bits of eggshells. Adding to the realistic rendering of the painting, the sky and some areas are covered with gold, creating a dream-like reality.