Lương Xuân Nhị (1914–2006): The Master of Green and the Painter of Beauty

Promotion VIII (1932–1937), Valedictorian — École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine

Lương Xuân Nhị stands among the most significant figures of 20th-century Vietnamese art.
Born in Hanoi in 1914, he grew up during a period when colonial expansion fostered strong cultural and artistic exchanges between Europe and Indochina. He entered the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine founded in 1924 and graduated in 1937, at the top of his class.

He studied under Nguyễn Nam Sơn and Victor Tardieu, absorbing both Western academic methods and traditional Vietnamese aesthetics. One of the first Vietnamese painters to adopt oil painting, he also mastered the delicate medium of silk painting, which would later become his hallmark.

Recognizing a work by Lương Xuân Nhị

Lương Xuân Nhị’s art embodies the graceful fusion of Vietnamese and Western techniques and themes. He is often called “the Master of Green” for his refined use of the color in his landscapes, and “the Painter of Beauty” for his tender portraits of women.

Key characteristics:

• Subtle green and soft pastel palette, evoking tranquility and harmony.

• Impressionist influences, visible in his landscapes of Hanoi and the northern countryside.

• Graceful depictions of women, often shown sewing, reading, or resting, rendered with calm dignity.

• Fine attention to composition, lighting, and expression, inspired by both European realism and Vietnamese lyricism.

After a study stay in the USSR, his later works took on a social realist dimension, while retaining his distinctive gentleness of tone and technique.

Lương Xuân Nhị remained deeply committed to classical artistic values throughout his career, balancing realism, beauty, and emotional restraint. His contribution to Vietnamese painting is recognized as a cornerstone of the Indochina School of Fine Arts legacy.

Lương Xuân Nhị on the art market: Artist’s value and estimates

The works of Lương Xuân Nhị are highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide. His silk paintings, in particular, are among the most desirable pieces from the Indochina School due to their rare combination of delicacy and emotional depth.

The silk paintings created between 1935 and 1955 reach the highest valuations, especially those depicting female figures or gentle rural scenes, which epitomize his poetic style.

Highlights of works sold at Aguttes

• Le Tricot, 1941, ink and colors on silk, signed and dated lower left, monogrammed lower right, 65.5 × 40.5 cm — sold for €756,000

• L’Atelier de broderie, ink and colors on silk, signed lower right, 37 × 77.5 cm — sold for €526,000

• Jeune femme au tricot, oil on canvas, signed upper left, 61 × 46 cm — sold for €311,000

These results confirm Lương Xuân Nhị as one of the most highly valued modern Vietnamese artists, alongside Lê Phổ, Mai Trung Thứ, and Vũ Cao Đàm.

Selling a work by Lương Xuân Nhị

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of Le renouveau de l’art moderne en Indochine and expert at Aguttes for over 15 years, offers her exceptional expertise in this field to French and European sellers and predominantly Vietnamese buyers.
She specializes in unpublished paintings and sculptures, both modern and contemporary, and conducts appraisals across France and Europe through Aguttes’ regional offices.

You can submit your free and confidential valuation request including photographs, descriptions, and relevant documentation via the online form or directly by email to our expert.

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

The Aguttes Asian Painters Department

As the historical market leader for Asian artists, Aguttes provides sellers with a trusted environment that guarantees optimal sale conditions, world-record results, and full transparency under French auction law.

The 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 obtain a free valuation of your work by Lương Xuân Nhị, and benefit from personalized guidance throughout the entire auction process.