This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is evidence of craquelure at areas of thicker impasto, but this is consistent with the age of the work. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no sign of restoration as viewed. Framed.
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.

“Draw your pleasure, paint your pleasure, and express your pleasure strongly.”  -  Pierre Bonnard

Mesmerizing in its exuberance and colorful vibrancy, Nature Morte (Still Life) by Le Pho marks the pinnacle of his artistic flair, as well as his fervent pursuit of portraying the pure beauty of the natural world. Born in 1907 in Vietnam, Le Pho cultivated his artistic expertise at an early age, studying at the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. However, it wasn’t until his monumental move to France in 1937 that Le Pho’s creativity was further invigorated by the captivating works of Pierre Bonnard, founder of the art group Les Nabis, whose works unveiled a new realm of light and color for the artist. Keen to build upon his knowledge of the principles of Impressionism, Le Pho dove into experimenting with the ways in which he could achieve and capture the imaginative and iridescent qualities of light and color. At a time when Vietnamese art took the form of predominantly lacquer crafts and decorative work, Le Pho’s works were a vibrant departure from tradition, as he became a pioneer in establishing a new stream of modern Vietnamese art. Executed in 1960, this present lot stands as a testament to Le Pho’s boundless fascination with French Impressionist notions of form, texture and chromatic allure. While Nature Morte (Still Life) follows in the Western tradition of studying form, Le Pho was perhaps even more drawn towards Pierre Bonnard’s late canvases that suffused scenes of the French artist’s villa in the south of France with radiant Mediterranean light. A basket of citrus fruits sits at the top of the vertical composition while other elements – a green tomato, a half-cut red onion, leaves, purple flowers and a lemon – seem to fall generously before the viewer. Light touches of bright orange permeate the canvas with golden warmth, as Le Pho’s spontaneous brush delineates the soft silhouettes of the fruits and vegetation. The powdered tangerine and peach backdrop is in constant flux and diffusion, highlighting Le Pho’s gestural application of paint, which imbues textural dimension and movement to his works. Grabbing the viewers’ attention is a bright white cloth, dotted with a delicate floral pattern and almost lacking in dimension; here, Le Pho subverts the conventions of perspective, and chooses instead to elevate the intricacies of color and composition by flattening the objects he depicts.

Le Pho’s playful and bold strokes of colour render a canvas animated with vitality, as the candied splashes of pinks and yellows lie amongst the verdant greens of the foliage. This is Le Pho’s method of exploring his endless fascination with the robustness of nature, as he lends from both Western and Vietnamese visual techniques to exaggerate the splendor of his vast color palette. In this magnificent still life, the sheer enchantment of oil paint becomes an infinitely malleable medium in Le Pho’s practiced hands, as his paintbrush traverses every inch of the canvas with passion and energy.