The artist's work, "La toilette", was auctioned by Sotheby's for 1,92 million HKD (approximately 6,4 billion VND) on 30/3. He used ink and gouache on silk, depicting a young woman grooming herself. In the upper right corner of the painting, he signed "Mai Thu", stamped it, and dated it 1943.

Renowned painter Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980) is celebrated for his exquisite portrayals of young Vietnamese women, often depicted in ao dai, with slender figures, hair tied in a bun or flowing loose, and notably dreamy eyes. His works frequently achieve high prices at auction, reflecting his significant influence in Vietnamese art. Tran Van Can, a fellow renowned painter, once remarked that no one painted eyes as beautifully as Mai Trung Thu.

Mai Trung Thu was a graduate of the first class of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (1925-1930) and is recognized as one of the "four masters of European renown" in Vietnamese painting, alongside Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, and Le Thi Luu. His painting, "Portrait of Miss Phuong", set a record with 3,1 million USD in 4/2021.

His works continue to command high prices. In the evening of 30/3, at Sotheby's Modern Day Auction, "Gourmandise", a work honoring motherhood with an image of a mother holding her child, sold for 2,4 million HKD (approximately 8,1 billion VND). This figure surpassed its estimated value of 800,000 to 1,8 million HKD. The artist's signature, seal, and the year of creation are visible in the lower right corner of the painting.

Also at the Modern Day Auction, the painting "Beauty in White" was sold for 960,000 HKD (approximately 3,2 billion VND).

In "Conversation", the artist depicted two young women seated and chatting. This piece achieved 896,000 HKD (three billion VND) at Sotheby's auction.

Mai Trung Thu began painting young women using oil paint, his major at art school, before transitioning to silk. After graduating in 1930, he taught at Quoc Hoc Hue school, where his talent flourished with a series of silk paintings of women.

Earlier, on 29/3, Sotheby's auction recorded 7,04 million HKD for "La jeune femme de Hue". The artist painted this work in 1937 while teaching at Quoc Hoc Hue school.

According to Sotheby's, the subject in this work is believed to have inspired Mai Trung Thu. The young woman, dressed in a white ao dai and conical hat, complemented by a bronze-colored necklace, embodies the quintessential beauty of Hue women of that era. Her right hand gently lifts the conical hat, highlighting her feminine grace.

In "Le petit cours d'eau, la baignade", Mai Trung Thu portrays young women bathing in a stream. This painting was expected to reach between 4,2 and 5 million HKD, but was auctioned for 5,7 million HKD (19 billion VND).

The painting was created in 1978, by which time the artist had established his distinctive style. The young women in the painting have slender figures and gentle gestures. The painter divided the composition into four color layers, from earthy yellow tones and the blue hues of the water to the emerald green of the foliage. He created a focal point by using many colors for the scarves.

Phuong Linh

*Photo: Sotheby's*