Lot description
Le Pho (1907 - 2001) Still Life Roses and Irises signed (lower right) oil on canvas 35” x 45” (89 cm x 114 cm) Provenance: Wally Findlay Gallery, New York Private collection, U.S.A. There is a general consensus that the art and practice of renowned Vietnamese painter Le Pho is divided into three distinct periods; namely the Hanoi period, the Romanet period, and the Findlay period. Le’s works from the Hanoi period featured lush Vietnamese landscapes and sceneries that were emblematic of his youthful optimism and heartfelt nostalgia for his homeland. His Romanet period, named after the French gallerist who supported Le’s artistic development in Europe, features a much more bold and dynamic color palette thanks to Le’s discovery and admiration of the French Impressionists. Le’s third and final period was his Findlay period. His Findlay works often feature more extemporary brush strokes and gestural visual elements, fully encapsulating his Impressionist, Romanticist, and Surrealist influences. This piece titled Still Life Roses and Irises is a pre-eminent example of Le’s use of his signature floral motif, an iconic element often found in both his Romenet and Findlay paintings. The artist’s use of a variety of pastel tones and hues such as white, pink, yellow, green, and blue, gives the piece a timelessly charming and evocative quality. Le Pho’s soft and subtle background perfectly complements his other elements by mimicking the gentle sway of leaves amidst a cool summer breeze— effectively transporting into the world of the painting itself.
