Lê Thi Luu (1911–1988): The Gentle Voice of Modern Vietnamese Art

Lê Thi Luu was a Vietnamese painter and one of the very few women to attend the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi. She was also the first female graduate to pursue a professional artistic career.
In an era still marked by strong Confucian traditions, she broke social barriers, asserting her artistic independence during the 1930s—a rare achievement for a woman at that time.

Together with fellow artists Mai Trung Thứ, Lê Phổ, and Vũ Cao Đàm, she formed part of the “Vietnamese quartet” who settled in France at the end of the 1930s, where she continued to paint and exhibit for the rest of her life.

Recognizing a Work by Lê Thi Luu

Lê Thi Luu’s art is characterized by an intimate lyricism, often centered on women and children. Her compositions express tenderness, serenity, and maternal warmth, conveyed through refined lines, soft contours, and delicate color harmonies.

Her style, though classical in construction, reflects a fusion between Asian tradition and French impressionist sensibility. The elegance of her figures and the calm atmosphere of her domestic scenes recall both the grace of Vietnamese silk painting and the pictorial poetry of Cézanne, to whom Victor Tardieu, director of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine, once compared her.

Common themes in her work include:

• Mothers and children in moments of affection;

• Young women in contemplative poses;

• Floral still lifes and serene garden scenes;

• Quiet interiors rendered with subtle luminosity.

Lê Thi Luu on the Art Market: Artist’s Value and Auction Estimates

The prices of Lê Thi Luu’s works range from €5,000 to over €400,000, depending on the medium, size, and period. Her silk paintings, particularly those created in Paris, are the most sought after by collectors for their emotional delicacy and technical finesse.

The most desirable pieces date from the 1940s to the 1970s, when her focus on motherhood, young women, and flowers culminated in works of lyrical sensitivity. These paintings regularly achieve record prices.

Highlights of Works Sold at Aguttes

• Enfants au jardin, 1986 gouache and ink on silk, dedicated, signed, and dated lower right, 46.2 × 38.2 cm — sold for €411,000

• Mère allaitant dans un intérieur, Paris, 1962 mixed media on silk, signed, dedicated, and dated lower right, 41 × 33 cm — sold for €405,000

These results confirm Lê Thi Luu’s status as one of the leading female artists of modern Vietnamese painting, alongside her male contemporaries from the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine.

Selling a Work by Lê Thi Luu

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of Le renouveau de l’art moderne en Indochine and expert at Aguttes for over 15 years, offers her deep knowledge of this artistic movement and market to French and European sellers and predominantly Vietnamese collectors.

She appraises mostly unpublished works, including modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures, and conducts on-site valuations across France and Europe, in collaboration with Aguttes’ regional offices.

You can submit a free and confidential valuation request by providing photographs, a detailed description, and any available documentation via the online form or directly by email to our expert.

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

The Aguttes Asian Painters Department

As the historic leader in the market for Asian artists, Aguttes acts as a trusted intermediary for both private and professional sellers, guaranteeing the best possible prices and world-record results on a discerning market.

A dedicated team ensures secure transactions and transparent handling of each sale, in accordance with French auction law.

The Asian Painters Department regularly presents sales 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 receive a free valuation of your work by Lê Thi Luu, and benefit from personalized guidance throughout the entire auction process.