Enriched by his exhibitions with Romanet, Lê Phổ was approached by gallery owner Wally Findlay, who wanted to commission a number of his paintings for the American public in 1963. His works became more flamboyant and were produced in large format, as a tribute to Matisse, of whom Lê Phổ was a fervent admirer. A new energy can be felt in his brushwork and palette.

The Letter testifies to the transition to this last period of artistic maturity for the painter. The depiction of a woman and child in a lush, flower-filled garden is a recurring theme for the painter, and his most prolific during this period. The delicacy and elegance of the work sublimate the serenity of the scene, which appealed to collectors across the Atlantic.

LÊ PHỔ (1907 - 2001)

La Lettre

Oil on canvas, signed lower left, titled on back

74 x 92 cm - 29 1/8 x 36 1/4 in

Provenance:

Wally Findlay Galleries, New-York

Private collection

Christie's sale, 1998, Singapore

Private collection, Singapore (acquired at 1998 sale)


Lê Pho and his wife Paulette with collectors on 4 February 1977, at the opening of the exhibition at the Wally Findlay gallery in Miami.

Upcoming auction: 
30 November 2023

For any further information, please contact:
Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier
+33 1 41 92 06 49
reynier@aguttes.com