The Combination of National Character with Western Fine Arts by Leading Artists of The Indochina School of Fine Arts

The École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine (1925–1945) played a pivotal role in shaping modern Vietnamese art by creating a unique fusion of traditional Vietnamese cultural elements and Western fine arts techniques. This study examines both the cultural and artistic values emerging from this combination, highlighting how Vietnamese artists integrated national identity into a modern artistic language. Through qualitative historical and analytical methods, this research investigates key works by prominent artists such as Tô Ngọc Vân, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Lê Phổ, Trần Văn Cẩn, and Nguyễn Gia Trí. The findings reveal that this fusion not only strengthened cultural self-awareness and national identity but also established new aesthetic paradigms, including innovative uses of medium, composition, and stylistic expression. Ultimately, the study underscores the enduring contribution of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine in fostering a modern Vietnamese art tradition that balances tradition and innovation.