LOT 63
VU CAO DAM
B. Beijing, 1908 – 2000
Untitled, 1970
Etching on paper (Edition 74 of 150)
66 x 51 cm
Private Collection, Canada
Signed and dated “Vu Cao Dam ‘1970” on lower right
RM 2,500 – 5,000
A towering pillar of modern Vietnamese art and one of the pioneering graduates of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine, Vu Cao Dam is globally celebrated for his unique ability to fuse traditional Vietnamese sensibilities with Western post impressionist techniques. His masterful synthesis of these two worlds is beautifully captured in his 1970 graphic work (Edition 74/150), created during his celebrated later period in the South of France, where his style became deeply lyrical, airy, and flooded with Mediterranean light.
Moving away from rigid representation, this limited edition print utilizes fluid, calligraphic lines and a delicate, romantic colour palette to depict a hallmark theme of his oeuvre, the poetic elegance of Vietnamese figures harmonized with natural elements. The composition relies on soft,sweeping forms and a subtle, atmospheric transparency that evokes a dreamlike sense of nostalgia and quiet romance. Rather than capturing a literal, grounded scene, the artwork projects a utopian vision of peace and universal harmony. By masterfully balancing the delicate philosophy of Eastern ink painting traditions with a sophisticated Western graphic sensibility, this scarce edition stands as an exquisite and timeless example ofVu Cao Dam’s cross cultural poetic genius.