'Freezing' the work 'Northern Confucian Scholar' and the issue of transparency in the origin of the painting

As Thanh Nien reported in the article The fate of the painting " Nhan Nho Xu Bac" by artist Nam Son in the issue published on March 31, 2025, before the auction of the painting took place, artist Nam Son's family sent a petition to the auction house to strongly protest, affirming that the painting was a work of legal inheritance of the family, which was preserved as a heritage, with the goal of building the Nam Son Museum - a place to preserve and honor the career of the pioneer artist in modern Vietnamese fine arts, in order to fulfill the wishes of artist Nam Son before he passed away.

PRICELESS ASSESSMENT

The painting " Nhan Nho Xu Bac" was created by artist Nam Son in 1923, before the Indochina College of Fine Arts was established, and became an important artistic milestone in his career. Tardieu - a French artist from Paris with the Indochina Prize - saw in Nam Son a worthy artistic partner, and it was Nha Nho Xu Bac who contributed to creating a historic alliance between the two, leading to the establishment of the Indochina College of Fine Arts in 1925 - the cradle that trained a generation of famous Vietnamese painters later on.

When writer Nhat Linh published his first work Nho phong in 1926, he respectfully placed the painting of the Confucian scholar of the North on the book cover, as a connection between form and meaning, between aesthetics and humanity. That is a testament to the special position of the painting in contemporary spiritual life.

The work "Northern Confucian Scholar " by artist Nam Son

PHOTO: DOCUMENTS BY NGO KIM KHOI

The cover of the first work Nho phong by writer Nhat Linh published in 1926 solemnly printed the picture of Confucian scholars of the North.

PHOTO: DOCUMENTS BY NGO KIM KHOI

The painting depicts Mr. Nguyen Huy Van - also known as Mr. Truong Van, alias Sy Duc, alias Cam Thanh - the younger brother of the artist Nam Son's mother, who was also the first teacher who guided Nam Son from his school days. Mr. Sy Duc was a patriotic Confucian scholar who participated in the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc movement, a revolutionary movement through the path of academia, opening up national ideology in the early 20th century. In the painting, he wears a white turban, mourning the loss of his country and home. His eyes are bright, his gaze is strong but still sad, as if encapsulating a historical nostalgia, making it impossible for viewers to be indifferent.

After Mr. Sy Duc passed away, his family placed the painting on the ancestral altar, considering it a sacred heritage of the family, not only a keepsake of a teacher or a relative, but also a symbol of the spirit and values ​​of traditional teachings.

S CAUTION REQUIRED

In response to the strong reaction from the family of painter Nam Son, the auction house Christie's has made an official response in a neutral and transparent spirit: "Please be assured that Christie's always takes seriously complaints related to ownership disputes... Your client's complaints have been promptly forwarded to the consignor... We have taken the necessary measures to retain the artwork and the proceeds from the sale of the work until the dispute between the two parties is resolved, or as directed by a valid court judgment".

Accordingly, the work "Nhat Nho Xu Bac " is currently "frozen", not transferred to the buyer nor returned to the seller, due to insufficient evidence to prove clear ownership. A decision that reflects professional ethics and necessary caution in the increasingly complex world of collecting.

Information about Christie's Hong Kong's "20th Century Day Sale" auction for the painting "Confucian Scholars of the North"

PHOTO: DOCUMENTS BY NGO KIM KHOI

On the legal side, the heirs of the Nam Son heritage, as per the family meeting minutes, will work with local authorities to resolve the dispute in accordance with inheritance law, ensuring the legitimate rights and cultural values ​​of the work are protected.

Christie's did the right thing by suspending the transaction pending a legal decision. And hopefully this action will set a positive precedent, helping to protect Vietnam's artistic heritage from the risk of being lost and dispersed.

In the context of a booming art market, this incident is a necessary reminder to collectors at home and abroad: Transparency about origin is not only a legal factor, but also a manifestation of respect for history and creators.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dong-bang-tac-pham-nha-nho-xu-bac-va-van-de-minh-bach-nguon-goc-tranh-185250419202848685.htm