In this artwork, how is the History discussed?
Tran Van Can is one of the leading representatives of Vietnamese painting in the early 20th century. He graduated as valedictorian from École des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine in 1937. In World War II, he often lived with a relative's family on Hang Cot street, Hanoi. Minh Thuy is his favorite niece in his family, so he painted his niece a portrait in 1943, with a simple title, Little Sister Thuy (Em Thúy), when Minh Thuy was 8 years old.When the French Army returned to occupy Hanoi during the First Indochina War, Thuy's family evacuated without taking the painting. By the time they returned, the painting had been stolen. The family then bought the painting from an art dealer who had found Little Sister Thuy in a barber's house. Finally, Little Sister Thuy was given by Tran Van Can to the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts. In addition to the portrait of the 8-year-old Minh Thuy, Tran Van Can also had another painting of Thuy when she was 24 years old.After more than 60 years, the painting began to fall into degradation. In 2003, Little Sister Thuy was proposed to be in restoration and preservation abroad; however, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam did not approve this proposition. A year later, the Australian painting conservator Caroline Fry took responsibility for the restoration of Little Sister Thuy at the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts. According to her assessment, after the restoration, the painting can maintain good condition for about 20 years. The painting was officially handed over to Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts on 28 June 2004.
École des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine French Army Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts Hanoi Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam First Indochina War Vietnam World War II painting conservator