Le Thiet Cuong, Family Toil, 1995

Oil on cheesecloth laid on board
45 x 71.5 cm, 73 x 100 x 2.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

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Cuong’s paintings hold meanings deeper than the surface simplicity of his art, the latter arresting in itself. In this painting, we sense a delicate tension created by the imbalance of power between the workers, landowner and the oxen. Perhaps the land owner is picturing himself getting married after a good harvest and so drives the workers hard (bowed down with labour) and makes the oxen angry. This is our own interpretation but that is the beauty of Cuong’s paintings - its ability to draw out many inferences.

(Photographed in June 2024)