Nguyen Van Thinh

Nguyễn Văn Thịnh (Born 1906): A Master of Harmony and Intimacy in Vietnamese Painting

Biography

Nguyễn Văn Thịnh was born in 1906 and entered the École des Beaux-Arts de Hanoï in 1928, an institution founded in 1924 by Victor Tardieu and Nam Sơn. Among his fellow students were notable names such as Nguyễn Gia Trí, Nguyễn Tường Lân, and Nguyễn Cát Tường.

He graduated top of his class in 1935, having acquired an exceptional mastery of drawing and painting techniques. While he explored various media, silk painting became his favored discipline. His works reveal a refined sense of color and composition, showing the influence of his predecessors, especially Tô Ngọc Vân and Nguyễn Phan Chánh, both pioneers of modern Vietnamese art.

That same year, he participated in the Salon organized by the Société Annamite d’Encouragement à l’Art et à l’Industrie (SADEAI) in Hanoi, an exhibition promoting the development of applied arts in Indochina a testament to his early recognition in the local art scene.

Nguyễn Văn Thịnh on the Art Market: Artist’s Value and Auction Estimates

Although less widely known than his contemporaries, Nguyễn Văn Thịnh stands out for his intimate approach, harmonious palette, and technical precision. His compositions often evoke quiet rural scenes or graceful female figures immersed in nature, reflecting both Vietnamese aesthetics and the influence of French art education.

Highlight: Works Sold by Aguttes

• Nguyen Van Thinh (born 1906), Jeunes femmes jouant d’un instrument (Young Women Playing Music), circa 1933
  Ink and color on silk, signed upper right, in its wooden frame, 84.5 × 67 cm — sold for €328,000 (Aguttes, 2020)

This remarkable result reflects the rising international recognition of Nguyễn Văn Thịnh’s poetic and technically accomplished silk paintings.

Selling a Work by Nguyễn Văn Thịnh

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, author of Le renouveau de l’art moderne en Indochine and expert with Aguttes for over 15 years, offers her deep expertise in this field to French and European sellers and predominantly Vietnamese collectors.

She specializes in unpublished works, including modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures, and conducts on-site valuations across France and Europe, in partnership with Aguttes’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

You may submit your free and confidential valuation request with photos, a detailed description, and any relevant documentation through the online estimation 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 is the trusted intermediary for private and professional sellers alike, guaranteeing record results and secure transactions within the framework of French auction law.

The Asian Painters Department regularly presents sales featuring 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 Văn Thịnh artwork and receive personalized guidance throughout the appraisal and sale process.