Diệp Minh Châu (1919–2002): Estimate and Market Value

École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine — Class of 1940–1943

Born in 1919 in Bến Tre Province, Vietnam, Diệp Minh Châu came from a modest background and displayed a fascination with drawing from an early age.
In 1940, he was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi, which he attended until 1943, demonstrating outstanding skill in silk painting.

During the 1950s, he pursued further studies abroad, notably in Czechoslovakia and India, graduating first in his class from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 1955.
Upon his return to Vietnam, Diệp Minh Châu devoted himself to sculpture, a medium through which he expressed both his artistic sensibility and his political ideals.

A key figure in Vietnam’s cultural life, he served on the executive committee of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (1963–1983) and later became Secretary General of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association (1978–1980).
In 1996, he was posthumously awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Art, one of the highest distinctions in Vietnamese culture.

Diệp Minh Châu on the Art Market: Artist’s Value

In recent years, the market for Diệp Minh Châu has attracted growing interest, driven by renewed appreciation for the first generation of Vietnamese artists trained at the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine.
A close associate of Hồ Chí Minh and an influential figure in 20th-century Vietnamese art, he produced a rich body of work that blends realism, patriotic symbolism, and poetic depictions of everyday life.

His most sought-after works date from the 1940s to the 1970s, particularly rural scenes and humanist portraits reflecting tenderness and introspection.

Highlighted Sale: Diệp Minh Châu at Aguttes

Jeune fille songeuse, Hanoi, 1943 ink and colors on silk, signed, titled, and dated on the right side, 78 × 57.5 cm — sold for €45,500.

Selling at Auction: Works by Diệp Minh Châu

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of Le renouveau de l’art moderne en Indochine and Aguttes expert for over 15 years, offers French and European sellers and a predominantly Vietnamese clientele her exceptional knowledge of this movement and its market.
She appraises rare and previously unpublished works, including modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures.

Our expert travels across France and Europe in collaboration with our regional offices.
You can also submit your free valuation request online, including photos, a description, and any supporting documentation, via our online form or directly by email.

The department organizes an average of four sales per year dedicated to artists of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine.

A historic leader in the market for Asian artists, Aguttes serves as a trusted intermediary between private collectors and professionals, ensuring record prices and secure transactions under French auction law.
A dedicated team ensures the final settlement and buyer follow-up for every work sold.

The Aguttes Asian Painters Department regularly presents works by major modern Vietnamese artists: Lê Phổ, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Mai Trung Thứ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Trần Văn Thọ, Phạm Hầu, and others.

Contact our expert today to receive a free valuation of your work by Diệp Minh Châu, and benefit from personalized guidance throughout the sale process.