Signed lower right: Le Pho

Artist's studio, Paris, July 1968; Private collection, New York, September 1968; Findlay Galleries, New York, November 1968; Private California collection.

Le Pho (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) Composition, 1968 Oil on canvas 35-1/2 x 46 inches (90.2 x 116.8 cm) Signed in English and Chinese lower right: Le Pho PROVENANCE: Artist's studio, Paris; Private collection, New York, acquired from the above, 1968; Findlay Galleries, New York, acquired from the above, 1968; Private collection, Newport Beach, California; Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, December 8, 2022, lot 69029; Private collection, acquired from the above. This lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from The Findlay Institute. The present work is highly demonstrative of Le Pho's so-called "Findlay period," the final stylistic phase of his career, marked by his 1963 partnership with American dealer Wally Findlay. The working relationship between Le Pho and Findlay was notably symbiotic. Aiming to expand the artist's presence on the American market, Findlay aggressively promoted Le Pho's work and encouraged some modification of his practice, catering specifically to these new collectors. These adjustments materialized in the form of a brighter color palette of oil paints rendered in stronger brushwork, a departure from Le Pho's softer paintings on silk, resulting in the more lush and saturated appearance of the present work. A supremely versatile artist, Le Pho beautifully translated his favorite themes of bouquets and Vietnamese women across the different media, incorporating Findlay's suggestions while retaining his own signature aesthetic. The combined efforts of Le Pho and Findlay met with great success, with the artist's work now residing in notable American collections with varieties of focus including contemporary European and American art, post-war French art, and 20th century Asian art. HID12401132022 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Unlined canvas. Scattered instances of finely patterned craquelure, primarily affecting the white pigments, and especially at areas of thick impasto. Considerable scattered small dots of discolored accretion throughout. Not examined out of frame due to size. Under UV: aforementioned dots of accretion fluoresce. Some modern pigments fluoresce as expected, particularly the oranges and yellows. No apparent retouching. Framed Dimensions 43 X 53.5 X 3 Inches