This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is evidence of tears and abrasions to the silk, visible upon close inspection. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals areas of restoration at the child's face and background. 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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This season, Sotheby’s is proud to offer an exceptional silk painting by the Vietnamese master Le Pho, one of the most highly sought after Southeast Asian artists today. An intimate portrayal of a woman and her child, Femme à L’enfant epitomizes the artist’s quintessential themes of motherhood and familial bliss, presenting a romanticized depiction of 19^th century Vietnamese. Charming and refined, this tender work conjures an image of domestic harmony undisturbed by worldly concerns. Le Pho was born in 1907 to the Viceroy of Tonkin and was fortunate to study under the prominent Victor Tardieu, a French painter who founded the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi in 1925. Tardieu initiated the formation of a new creative discourse in Vietnam, training artists to break away from the more decorative restrains of export ware, which was commonly produced at the time. Le Pho was soon part of this new aesthetic ideology, which evolved into a striking amalgamation of Vietnamese and French techniques. Le Pho was granted a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1932, before later returning to Hanoi to teach at the École des Beaux Arts de l'Indochine. Much like artists Mai Trung Thu, Vu Cao Dam and Le Thị Luu, Le Pho built his career in Paris, where he would live until the end of his life.

Le Pho’s oeuvre provides a glimpse into the idyllic existence of the Vietnamese elite. The meticulously painted backdrop of the present lot truly sets this work apart in his opus. A glorious mountain rage and forests lined with palm trees permeate the work with a sense of depth. Femme à L’enfant is an exquisite example of the artist’s celebrated mastery of painting on silk.

Placed in the foreground of the work is a classic image of a mother and child that spans the larger part of the composition. Here, the innocent child leans towards his mother and vulnerably tilts his head downwards as he holds on to her hand. In response, the mother motions towards her son, peering at him protectively. Her embrace is nurturing and her mere presence gives him a needed sense of security. A translucent scarf modestly wrapped over her hair provides her with an ephemeral and angelic deportment. The fabric dances lightly in response to the wind and drapes over her son’s shoulder. A sense of quietude and peacefulness pervades the scene.