Peonies and Irises

Lê Phổ, a pioneer of modern Vietnamese art, integrated traditional Chinese and Vietnamese aesthetics with Western painting techniques in his painting, and his work was noted for delicate beauty and profound cultural depth. This work, along with Still Life, belongs to his “Romanet period.” The texture of the painting is heavier than his previous works, drawing on the bright colors and lively brushwork of Impressionism, while capturing vivid vitality with trembling lines and dynamic color blocks at the tips of branches and leaves. Having studied classical Chinese art in his early years, the artist specifically incorporated blue-and-white porcelain vases and peonies into his paintings, conveying the poetic spirit inherent in Chinese and Vietnamese cultural traditions. After settling in France in 1937, Lê Phổ never returned to his homeland; through his depictions of flowers, he expressed deep longing for his native land and cultural nostalgia.