The work En plein air (Outdoors) by Mai Trung Thu was sold for EUR828,420, the highest price in the Asian Painters auction titled Modern Vietnamese Art by Aguttes.

The painting was created by the artist between 1940 and 1945, depicting two women, with one reading a book, and the other seemingly lost in thoughts. They were all wearing long dresses with low bun hairstyles and red lipstick, exuding elegance and a classic look.

Meanwhile, Portrait de Madame Nguyen Nguyet Nga (Portrait of Madame Nguyen Nguyet Nga) ranked second, changing hand for EUR413,720. The work was painted by Mai Trung Thu in 1950.

In the description, the auction house says the painting is a testament to the beauty and richness of a distinctive style that combines Western and Vietnamese influences, gracefully capturing everyday life and human emotions.

The third highest value went to Femme aux oeillets (Woman with carnations) by Le Pho that was sold for EUR407,340. The author drew a girl sitting on a chair, holding a flower branch in one hand, with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Other paintings sold for high prices include Jeune femme au tricot (Young woman is knitting) by Luong Xuan Nhi, Marguerite au jardin jouant avec les poussins (Marguerite is playing with the chicks) by Vu Cao Dam, Fleurs (Flowers) by Le Pho, Zither – Erhu by Mai Trung Thu, Femmes tissant le rotin (Women weaving rattan) by Nguyen Phan Chanh, and Les chrysanthèmes (Chrysanthemums) by Vu Cao Dam. These works changed hand at the prices of EUR-164,000 to EUR311,640.

VOV