Évariste Jonchère

Appraisal and market value of Évariste Jonchère (1892–1956)

Director of the Indochina School of Fine Arts from 1938 to 1944

From the age of sixteen, Jonchère showed an interest and talent for drawing. He was admitted to the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, first to Antonin Mercié’s studio and then, after the war, to that of the sculptor Boucher.

In 1925, he won the Grand Prix de Rome for a work titled Vendange. After spending four years in Italy, he taught at the School of Fine Arts in Le Havre. In 1932, he was awarded the Prix d’Indochine and left for Vietnam, where he spent two years painting and sculpting.

After traveling around the world, he returned to France and participated in the 1937 World’s Fair. The following year, he was appointed director of the Indochina School of Fine Arts, succeeding Victor Tardieu. Until 1944, he built upon his predecessor’s work: convinced of the value of craftsmanship, the director added lacquer, ceramics, metalwork, and cabinetmaking to the three already established departments, painting, sculpture, and architecture, at the school. By establishing lacquer as a section in its own right, Jonchère recognized and fostered the development of this ancestral Annamite craft. He also founded schools of applied arts throughout the country and organized the promotion of his students’ works.

Upon his return to France, he completed prestigious official commissions, such as one for the Élysée Palace. He then traveled to Africa in search of new inspiration and was appointed director of the École supérieure des beaux-arts in Brazzaville. In 1955, he moved to Paris, where he resumed his work as a sculptor and passed away the following year.

How can you recognize a work by Évariste Jonchère?

Évariste Jonchère was an academic artist and one of the so-called “New Orientalists.” Jonchère immortalized a vision of a gentle and enchanting Far East. In contrast to the Orientalists, who were fascinated by an ostentatious and exuberant Orient, these artists celebrated the understated elegance and dignified reserve of the people of Indochina.

Évariste Jonchère on the Art Market: The Artist’s Value

The prices of Évariste Jonchère’s works on the art market vary depending on the specific pieces and the techniques used by the artist, including oil paintings and sculptures in bronze or terracotta.

The most sought-after subjects are heads, busts, or full-length portraits, whether sculpted or painted, executed with ethnological precision, as well as scenes of daily life and a few female nudes, in which a subtle balance between realism and poetry is evident.

Works from his Indochinese period, particularly the 1940s, when he served as director of the EBAI, achieve the highest auction prices, especially when they have documented provenance or a history of exhibition.

Spotlight on Works by Évariste Jonchère Sold at Aguttes

Congaïe couture, 1940, bronze with green patina, signed, stamped with the foundry mark of E. Godard, and numbered E.A III/IV on the back, 62 x 21 x 21 cm, second-highest world record, sold for €58,500.

Young Laotian Woman, bronze, with a nuanced brown patina on a veined red marble base, original posthumous cast, ed. 3/8, signed and marked “Godard lost-wax,” 49.5 cm, sold for €32,800.

Auctioning a work by Évariste Jonchère

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 for a free appraisal of your work by Évariste Jonchère.