Private Collection, USA

The work is in good condition overall. The silk is free from runs and tears. There is indication of light wear and handling on the edges of the painting. Examination under ultraviolet light revealed scattered pin-size holes which are only visible upon close observation. Inspection of the painting was done with the frame. 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."

"In the pond there is no flowers as beautiful as the lotus,
Green leaves, white petals and yellow seeds inside.
Oh, yellow seeds, white petals and green leaves,
Even though you grew in the mud of the pond, your smell is still perfumed”

 — A Vietnamese traditional poem

The works of the Vietname🐻se artist Le Pho are characterized by a distinct elegance, paired together with an imagination and artistry that immediately suggests a background of culture and taste. The artist&rsquo𒆙;s technique is a unique synthesis of Oriental motifs and astute Western insights, the paintings conveying sentiments that are pure, poetic and enigmatic. Revered as a distinguished twentieth century Vietnamese Master of silk painting, Le Pho is among the most highly sought after artists from Southeast Asia today.

The painter was born in Hadong, a town to the South of Hanoi in North Vietnam, and grew up in a family of distinguished Mandarins. He was the son of Le Hoan who was the Viceroy of Tonkin during the reign of Emperor Ham Nghi. Le Pho received a prestigious education, both at home and abroad. The present Lot, Portrait de Jeune Femme à La Branche de Lotus (Portrait of a Young Woman with Lotus), is a beautiful work of art that exempl▨ifiౠes the artist’s unparalleled virtuosity in handling silk as a medium, as well as his eloquent depiction of human charm.

Executed in 1939, after Le Pho’s first exhibition overseas in Paris, Portrait de Jeune Femme à La Branche de Lotus (Portrait of a Young Woman with Lotus), is an exquisite work that demonstrates a newfound confidence in his artistic expression. Inspired by his recent travels, the portrait exudes an elegant stillness that is comparable to portraits seen in European religious art. Rendering the young woman in a close up view, Le Pho demonstrates his innate understanding of female beauty. The young woman gathers her slender fingers together, while gently holding a lotus flower close to her face to enjoy its delicate aroma. She tilts her head to one side in a manner that suggests motherhood, servility and compassion. With the petals lightly touching her lips, the woman’s graceful gesture creates a portrait that is both demure and sensual. From the blackest of black and the boldest of vermillion, to the brightest of white, Le Pho relinquishes his composition from ꦑextraneous elements. Though the painting is comprised of solid colors, the translucent fabric of the silk enhances the diaphaneity of his color palettes, giving the subject a luminous, lit from within-like quality. Purity is represented symbolically by the lotus motif, for the flower grows out of muddy water, and blooms pristinely above the surface, untouched and unstained by earthly impurities.

Le Pho’s early ink and gouache on silk interpretations of feminine beauty are one of the most sought-after subject matters in his prolific oeuvre. The artist imbues his paintings with a spirit that is unique to each composition, as well as contingent to the time and place of the work’s creation. The solitary composition of Portrait de Jeune Femme à La Branche de Lotus (Portrait of a Young Woman with Lotus) imbues the work 🅰with a lyrical melancholy—a sense💖 of longing that is emphasized by the gesture of the delicate petals that graze against the young woman’s soft cheek.