Vase de fleurs (Flowers in a vase)

This work belonged to the collection of Marie Hamm Ankeny and Theodora Hamm Lang, the identical twin granddaughters of Theodore Hamm, founder of his eponymous brewing company. Over many decades of joint collecting, the twins travelled vastly throughout Southeast Asia, developing a keen eye for works of the region. The pair fondly admired Le Pho’s practice, and this present lot was a prized piece within their collection, acting as an exemplary example of their taste. The delicate scent of the banquet reminded them their cherished moments of travelling throughout the years.

“Although a table is often suggested in these compositions, the intensity of the pigments and the sketchiness of the backgrounds tend to create the sensation that the bouquets are pulsating with an internal energy that seems poised to spill out beyond the canvas.” – Janet Whitmore on Le Pho