Beschreibung:

NGUYEN PHAN CHANH (1892-1984)Retour au village 1955 signée Ng. Phan-Chanh, datée 8-1955 (en bas à droite); signé, inscrit et daté 24-3-1959 (au revers) encre et couleurs sur soie marouflée sur carton 85 x 63 cm (33 1/2 x 24 3/4 in.)FootnotesNGUYEN PHAN CHANH (1892-1984) Returning to the village 1955 signed Ng. Phan-Chanh, dated 8-1955 (lower right); inscribed, signed and dated 24-3-1959 (reverse) ink and colour on silk laid on board Provenance Collection of Miklós Rév, acquired directly from the artist in 1959 in Vietnam Thence by descent to the present owner European private collection During the years of the war against the French, the subject of his paintings, in a more realistic style, was imbued with the spirit of resistance to save the country. 'Returning to the village' is one of the compositions of this period. Nguyễn Phan Chánh illustrates in this painting the return of fighters after the victory against the French army during the Indochina War of Independence. One can imagine that the heroes here are a man, a woman, and a young girl. All three carry their bundles. The reunion must be touching as the woman is already carrying in her arms a small child from the village, or perhaps her own child brought into the world in the middle of the war? They are welcomed with joy by the villagers. An older woman, with one hand resting on her stick, clasps the hero's arm with the other hand. Behind the applauding is an old man with a white beard, also leaning on his stick. Then a child in the foreground offers a banana to the son and we see in the background a mother carrying her child. Thus, all ages are present to welcome these war veterans. The perspective is respected. This scene probably takes place at the entrance of the village by the sea on which a few sailboats are drawn in the distance. You can see a thatched house where the national flag flies as well as the sketch of a tree. What appears at first glance is the harmony of warm colours - notice the absence of green and blue. Orange yellow predominates, offering a whole palette of gradients. This play of colours brings like a pastry joy regained. However, the absence of men, apart from the old man, perhaps the character on the far left of the canvas and the hero soldier, may suggest that the others are still fighting. The artist has precisely detailed this scene. The smile of each one expresses both the joy but also the respect offered to these veterans, as well as the gesture of the hands. To be noted also the delicacy of the features of the faces, the precision of the strands of hair. The clothes are perfectly designed until one notice what seems to be a patch stitched on the fighting woman's trousers, illustration that she returns from a painful period. And what does she wear around her neck, a necklace, a military license plate? In the details, we must note the turbans and humble black trousers worn by these women as well as the conical hats that thus sign the place of this scene. We are in Vietnam. This painting recalls some lines from Hoang Trung Thông's poem1: Your return brings joy back to the house With songs and smiles The small village regains its animation Your return makes the alleys full of laughter Accompanied with joy by the younger generations Old mothers with tears in their eyes Happy to see their children returning from the deep forest... 'Returning to the village' was formerly part of the collection of Miklós Rév. A renowned Hungarian photographer, born in 1906 in Sátoraljaújhely and died in Budapest in May 1998, Miklós Rév began his career as a photographer in 1923. In 1957, he was president of the Hungarian Association of Photographers, and visited Hanoi in 1959. His photographs offer an authentic perspective of life in the capital more than 60 years ago. During his visit, he met the artist Nguyễn Phan Chánh, whom he holds in high esteem in his book entitled 'The Art of Vietnam' (co-authored with journalist Imre Patkó), which recounts their observati