Duong Bich Lien (1924-1988) is regarded as one of Vietnam’s greatest artists, alongside the esteemed trio of Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Nguyen Sang, and Bui Xuan Phai. While he may have been the most reserved of the four, his artistic contributions to the nation’s cultural heritage are undeniably remarkable.
Among Hanoi’s intellectual elite in the 1970s, Duong Bich Lien was an exceptionally talented and renowned figure. One of his most celebrated works, Hao (The Tunnel), depicted the army’s trenches during the War of Resistance. He completed this powerful piece in 1972, amidst the intense US bombing of the nation’s capital. Hao is a large-scale oil painting on canvas, measuring 1.47 meters by 2 meters, and it garnered high praise for its artistic aesthetics and unique portrayal of the soldiers’ experience.
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| Hao (The Tunnel) by Duong Bich Lien – a powerful portrayal of the army’s trenches during the War of Resistance. |
Noted scholar Nguyen Hao Hai recounts how the writer Nguyen Tuan and musician Van Cao deeply admired both Lien and his masterpiece. According to artist Le Thiet Cuong, Hao exudes a sense of tranquility, reflecting the calmness in Duong Bich Lien’s life. However, as Cuong interprets the empty space in the painting, he alludes to a “thunderous silence,” a concept echoed in Van Cao’s words.
Despite its initial controversy, with some questioning the depiction of the soldiers’ demeanor, Hao has since been recognized for its artistic merit. The painting embarked on a journey, passing through the hands of collectors and writers before eventually being sold abroad. Fortunately, it returned to Hanoi in 2015 and is now owned by a Vietnamese collector.
Duong Bich Lien led a quiet and reclusive life, and his artistic talent extended beyond Hao. He is well known for his portraits of Hanoi women, infusing each painting with a deep sense of love and respect for his subjects. Lien’s unique personality and choice of death—fasting and drinking only alcohol for the last 20 days of his life—continue to intrigue people.
Art researcher Thai Ba Van describes Lien’s art as a luxurious and intellectually stimulating world, reflecting the artist’s deep compassion for humanity. Duong Bich Lien’s legacy is one of artistic dignity and a profound contribution to Vietnamese fine arts.
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| Duong Bich Lien: A prominent artist whose work defined Vietnamese fine arts in the early 20th century. |
Born in Hanoi on July 17, 1924, Duong Bich Lien came from a family of government officials and highly accomplished intellectuals. He was a student at the Indochina College of Fine Arts (now Vietnam University of Fine Arts) and was posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Art in 2000, a testament to his enduring artistic legacy.
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