Lê Quốc Lộc

Lê Quốc Lộc (1918–1987): The Master of Vietnamese Lacquer

Born on October 20, 1918, in Hưng Yên, Lê Quốc Lộc was one of the foremost lacquer painters of 20th-century Vietnam. He graduated in 1942 from the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi (12th promotion), specializing in lacquer art and techniques.

Beyond his artistic practice, Lê Quốc Lộc was deeply involved in the political and cultural life of his country. During the First Indochina War, he became an active revolutionary, producing propaganda artworks for the Department of Fine Arts of North Vietnam from 1945. Later, in 1955, he joined the Vietnam Association of Arts and Crafts and contributed to the nation’s post-war artistic reconstruction.

Between 1959 and 1967, he served as Deputy Director of the Gia Định School of Applied Arts in southern Vietnam, and subsequently held the same position at the University of Industrial Fine Arts of Hanoi. He played a pivotal role in training a new generation of artists, particularly in lacquer painting and ceramic decoration, the two disciplines he mastered with exceptional finesse.

In 2000, his artistic legacy was honored posthumously with the Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Art, recognizing several of his most celebrated lacquer works:
The Old (1957), The Light Comes (1956), Resistance to Desert (1958), Peace to Hold (1962), and From the Dark (1982).

Today, several of his works are held in the permanent collection of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi.

Recognizing a Work by Lê Quốc Lộc

Lê Quốc Lộc’s oeuvre stands at the crossroads of lyricism, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. His lacquer panels combine technical mastery with a poetic vision of Vietnamese life from rural landscapes to bustling markets and mythological themes.

• Exceptional control of lacquer layers, revealing depth and subtle gradations of color.

• Frequent use of gold and silver leaf, as well as mother-of-pearl inlay, to enhance the brilliance of compositions.

• Themes drawn from Vietnamese daily life, folklore, and nature: rivers, mountains, markets, farmers, and festivals.

• Balanced and rhythmic compositions, characterized by harmony and refined ornamentation.

His work embodies the golden age of Vietnamese lacquer art, in which traditional techniques were elevated to fine art status through innovation and modern expression.

Lê Quốc Lộc on the Art Market: Artist’s Value and Auction Estimates

Lê Quốc Lộc’s reputation continues to grow on the international art market. His lacquer panels and decorative works attract collectors for their technical sophistication, cultural authenticity, and aesthetic power.

The most sought-after works are the large-scale lacquer compositions depicting landscapes or market scenes, especially those signed and dated from the colonial or post-war periods. These can achieve auction prices exceeding €140,000, particularly when provenance and exhibition history are well documented.

Highlights of Works Sold at Aguttes

• Les rapides de Cho Bo, 1942 — lacquer with gold highlights, six-panel screen, signed and dated lower right, 100 × 32.7 cm — sold for €445,000

• Polychrome lacquered wooden armoire with gold and silver highlights, 140 × 105 × 37 cm — sold for €149,000

These results confirm Lê Quốc Lộc’s status as one of the most respected and valuable Vietnamese lacquer artists of the 20th century.

Selling a Work by Lê Quốc Lộc

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of Le renouveau de l’art moderne en Indochine and expert at Aguttes for over 15 years, provides her expertise to both French and European sellers and predominantly Vietnamese buyers.
She specializes in unpublished works, paintings, and sculptures, whether modern or contemporary, and travels across France and Europe in collaboration with Aguttes’ regional offices.

You may submit your free, confidential valuation request with photographs, a description, and any supporting documentation via the online form or directly by email to our expert/

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

The Aguttes Asian Painters Department

As a historical leader on the Asian art market, Aguttes serves as a trusted intermediary for sellers and collectors, ensuring the best results and record prices in a demanding global market.

The department regularly presents auctions featuring the great modern Vietnamese masters:
Lê Phổ, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Mai Trung Thứ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Trần Văn Thọ, Phạm Hầu, and many others.

Contact our expert today to obtain a free valuation of your work by Lê Quốc Lộc, and benefit from personalized guidance through every step of the auction process.