Bùi Xuân Phái

Appraisal and market value of Bùi Xuân Phái (1920–1988)

Class XV (1941–1945)

Born in 1920 in Hanoi, Bùi Xuân Phái enrolled at the Indochina School of Fine Arts in 1941.

He was the painter from the final graduating class (1941–1945) whose influence was most decisive in shaping the modern art movement of the past decades. Upon graduation, he joined the revolutionary movement in Hanoi, then the Viet Bac resistance movement until 1950. In poor health, he returned to Hanoi, where he created illustrations for various newspapers, including the magazine Van Nhee. In 1956, he taught at the Vietnam School of Fine Arts. The following year, he joined the Nhan Van Giai Pham (Literature and Humanism) movement advocating for freedom of expression, which was quickly suppressed. In 1984, he held his first solo exhibition in Hanoi. He died four years later just as he was about to leave for Paris.

How can you recognize a work by Bùi Xuân Phái?   

This artist, whose style is highly recognizable, counts among his favorite subjects scenes depicting the streets of Hanoi and scenes from chéo (a Vietnamese theatrical art form combining dance and song that dates back to the 10th or 11th century). These compositions immerse the viewer in Vietnamese alleyways, whether they are deserted or bustling with peaceful activity.

His works are primarily oil paintings on canvas. A prolific artist, he nevertheless created on all kinds of media, even unexpected ones such as newspaper, notebook pages, matchboxes, or cigarette packs... He painted in a lively, jerky style, often outlining his subjects with a black line and applying the colors with a palette knife.

Much loved by everyone in Hanoi and known for his warm-hearted and humorous nature, he painted hundreds of portraits of all his friends.

Bùi Xuân Phái on the art market: the artist’s market value

The price of Bùi Xuân Phái’s works varies depending on the size and provenance of each canvas; most of his canvases sell for between €3,000 and €8,000.
A large-format oil on canvas can sell for tens of thousands of euros and up to over €100,000.

Spotlight on Bùi Xuân Phái’s works sold at Aguttes

Rue de Hanoï, Oil on canvas, 50 x 62 cm, sold for over 45,000 €.

Vendre aux enchères une œuvre de Bùi Xuân Phái 

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of the book The Revival of Modern Art in Indochina and an expert with Aguttes for over 15 years, offers her extensive knowledge of this movement and market to French and European sellers and buyers, primarily from Vietnam. She appraises objects and works, mostly previously unseen, including modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures. Our expert travels throughout France and Europe in collaboration with our regional representative offices.

You may also submit your appraisal request in advance of a meeting, along with a description, photos, and any available documents related to the work, using the online form or by emailing our expert directly.

As the long-standing leader in the market for Asian artists, Aguttes serves as a trusted third party for every private or professional seller, guaranteeing that they obtain the best price and achieve world records in a demanding market. A dedicated local team ensures final payment for each artwork, with the auction governed by French law. 

Aguttes’ Asian Painters department regularly holds auctions dedicated to major modern Vietnamese artists : Lê Phổ,  Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Mai Trung Thứ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Trần Văn Thọ, Phạm Hầu, and many others. The department organizes an average of four auctions dedicated to artists from the Indochina School of Fine Arts.

Contact our expert to get a free appraisal of your Bùi Xuân Phái artwork.