The prototype in the painting “Em Thuy” by famous painter Tran Van Can - teacher Nguyen Minh Thuy passed away on July 9 in Hanoi, at the age of 90.
Ms. Thuy is the granddaughter of painter Tran Van Can (1910-1994), one of the famous quartet of painters Tri-Van-Lan-Can (Nguyen Gia Tri, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Tuong Lan, Tran Van Can).
The oil painting “Em Thuy” (size 60cmx45cm) depicts a portrait of a little girl with short hair and an innocent face, sitting shyly on a rattan chair, her face facing forward with wide open eyes.
This is considered a masterpiece of art, one of the outstanding portraits of modern painting in the country. The work was recognized as a National Treasure in 2013, and is currently on display at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
In 2003, British musician Paul Zetter wrote “Little Thuy Minuet” after seeing the painting. He said he was fascinated by “seeing my childhood, seeing the inner turmoil that moved me to tears because of the absolute simplicity of the painting”.
He was also the one who helped invite Australian restoration expert Caroline Fry to restore this painting. 2004.
According to the Heritage Records of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, painter Tran Van Can used a typical layout in the early 20th century European style. The work was recognized as a National Treasure because it is a unique creation and is highly appreciated by historical, cultural and fine arts researchers.
The painting has a unique style of Tran Van Can, inheriting Western shapes, blending Eastern spirit. With oil paint, the work is typical of realism art, as well as the genre of Vietnamese portrait painting in the early 20th century. Through "Em Thuy", the work contributes to reflecting the image of Vietnamese society before the August Revolution in 1945.
According to Mrs. Minh Thuy, one day in 1943, seeing her niece wearing a pink Ha Dong silk dress, he asked her to sit on the chair as a model for the painting. At that time, Minh Thuy was eight years old and was studying at the École Brieux primary school for girls in Hang Cot. The work was first introduced at the FARTA (An Nam Art Association) exhibition in Hanoi in 1943. The painting later helped the famous artist Tran Van Can win first prize at the exhibition of the Association for the Advancement of Knowledge (AFIMA), along with the work “Washing Hair”.
Later, due to the war, the family evacuated and the work was lost. In 1964, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum bought the painting from photographer Do Huan's family for 300 dong. At that time, the salary of a newly graduated civil servant was only 64 dong a month.
In addition to the portrait of "Em Thuy", artist Tran Van Can also has another painting of his niece Minh Thuy at the age of 24 (1959).
As the eldest sister in a family of four civil servants living at 23 Hang Cot Street, Hanoi, Ms. Minh Thuy was raised in a disciplined environment. Later, she taught home economics at Hanoi Pedagogical College until her retirement. In her old age, she lived with her eldest son, Dao Anh Tuan, in Thanh Xuan, Hanoi.
It can be said that the original of the painting has gone to heaven, but "Em Thuy" still has eternal vitality in Vietnamese painting.
TH (according to Vietnam+)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nguyen-mau-trong-buc-tranh-em-thuy-cua-danh-hoa-tran-van-can-qua-doi-386971.html
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