![Maison des Beaux Arts de L’ Indochine - View of a landscape of the Middle Region of North Vietnam [c.1939-40]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/15325883291_2892693b8d_o.jpg)
Vietnamese lacquer artists are highly regarded for their talents with the material as an art form. No longer perceived as merely decorative works of art, lacquer pieces have become a part of the country’s art history. Lacquer itself is made up from the resin of trees that are only native to Asia. In Vietnam the tree is known as Rhus succedanea. The tradition of local lacquer painting is more than 2,000 years old, dating as far back as the Ly dynasty in the 11th century where the material was used in palaces and temples. Throughout its history lacquer has evolved as a creative medium, and one that has become a part of the Vietnamese cultural identity. However it was during the early 20th century that saw lacquer painting reach new heights, with the thirties and forties celebrated as the Golden Age of Vietnamese lacquer painting.
The present work View of a Landscape of the Middle Region of North Vietnam was created during this period, and perfectly exemplifies the favoured aesthetics and themes that would come to define modern Phu Tho lacquer paintings. The current work is a depiction of a local junk boat upon a river in the midlands of North Vietnam, complimented by the nearby fishing village, the lush tropical foliage and the mountains in the distance. The presence of the women amidst the palm trees further enhances the gentle quietude of the landscape.
[Sotheby’s, Hong Kong - Lacquer on wood, 76 x 103.5 cm]