Nguyễn Đức Nùng (1914–1983): Master of Silk and Lacquer Art

Promotion IX (1933–1938) — École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine

Biography

Born in 1914 in Phu Lam, near Hanoi, Nguyễn Đức Nùng was a talented Vietnamese painter who joined the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in 1933.

In 1935, he achieved early recognition when he participated successfully in the first SADEAI Salon (Société Annamite d’Encouragement à l’Art et à l’Industrie) in Hanoi, exhibiting a silk painting that showcased his refined sense of composition and sensitivity to Vietnamese themes.

After graduating in 1938, he was offered a scholarship by Pierre Delsalle, the Vice-Governor of Tonkin, to continue his studies in France an opportunity he declined to remain in Hanoi and support his family.

In the early 1940s, Nguyễn Đức Nùng worked at the École Française d’Extrême-Orient, where he taught drawing and contributed to the restoration of heritage sites in Huế. During this period, he became close to lacquer masters Hoàng Tích Chù and Nguyễn Văn Tỵ, developing a strong command of lacquer techniques.

A committed participant in the August Revolution of 1945, he later held several important positions promoting the development of the Fine Arts in Vietnam, shaping the country’s postcolonial artistic identity.

Nguyễn Đức Nùng on the Art Market: Artist’s Value and Auction Estimates

Nguyễn Đức Nùng is celebrated for his technical versatility mastering oil, gouache, ink, and lacquer and for his lyrical depictions of village life, serene landscapes, and intimate portraits. His works convey both discipline and emotion, reflecting the harmony between Vietnamese tradition and modern artistic education.

Highlight: Works Sold by Aguttes

• Nguyễn Đức Nùng (1914–1983), Fillette au panier de fleurs (Young Girl with a Basket of Flowers), 1936
  Ink and color on silk, signed and dated lower left, 45 × 62 cm — sold for €93,000 (Aguttes, 2020)

This sale underscores the growing appreciation for his early silk paintings, where refined brushwork and emotional subtlety capture the poetic spirit of Vietnamese rural life.

Selling a Work by Nguyễn Đức Nùng

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

She appraises unpublished works, including modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures, and conducts on-site valuations throughout France and Europe, in partnership with Aguttes’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

You can send your free and confidential valuation request, including a description, photographs, and any available documentation, via the online form or directly by email to our specialist.

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

The Aguttes Asian Painters Department

As a historical leader in the market for Asian modern artists, Aguttes acts as a trusted intermediary for private and professional sellers, ensuring record results and secure transactions under French auction law.

The Asian Painters Department regularly presents auctions dedicated to the great masters of modern Vietnamese art:
Lê Phổ, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Mai Trung Thứ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Trần Văn Thọ, Phạm Hầu, and many others.

Contact our expert today for a free valuation of your Nguyễn Đức Nùng artwork and receive personalized guidance from appraisal to auction.