sentences:  As noted by art historian Nora Taylor, “[He … propped his easel under a tree by rice paddy, took off his shirt and proceeded to sketch farmers planting their rice seedlings.Needless to say he earned quite a few giggles and embarrassed glances from his subjects.’ Nobody took off their shirts in public, not even the farmers in the fields.The French did and so did To Ngoc Van.” This example quoted by Taylor, argues that the tendency of idealization, we see in To Nga Van's painting reflects a distancing and detachment with the subject matter, a result of artist's attempt to emulate their French teachers inclusive of whatever they do.