"Why are lacquer paintings so expensive?" - an explanation from an international newspaper.

Last year, a lacquer painting sold for $972,000. What makes this type of painting so special? Why is it so expensive?

That was the opening question from Business Insider, a well-known online financial and business publication in the United States.

To answer this question, they sought out Mr. Pham Chinh Trung, a lacquer painting artist with nearly 50 years of experience in Vietnam. He understands the risky and meticulous process involved in creating a lacquer painting. Business Insider's report provided detailed information and an authentic perspective on the creation of a lacquer painting, as well as explaining why this art form is so valuable.

From expensive ingredients

Skill, time, and materials are three crucial elements for a perfect lacquer painting. The materials used in lacquer painting must be sourced from nature. The lacquer itself is the resin of the lacquer tree (also known as "rhus succedanea"), a tree that originated in Southeast Asia. To obtain approximately 1.5 kg of resin, they have to cut down about 400 trees.

"Syzygium trees are planted for three years and can be harvested for four to five years. To harvest the resin, we have to start at 4 a.m. After cutting, we use clam shells to collect the resin. After about three to four hours, the resin is ready to be harvested," a syzygium tree grower shared with Business Insider.

The harvested resin still contains impurities and needs to be cleaned. Then, the artist mixes it for several hours before beginning the lacquer painting. The color palette of lacquer paintings is also made from natural ingredients according to a mixing formula. For example, white comes from chicken eggshells, and red is made from cinnabar – a rather toxic ore.

During the painting process, artists also use silver or gold leaf to create soft lighting. These are the most expensive but indispensable materials in lacquer painting. The high cost of the materials and the meticulous process of creating the lacquer are partly why this type of painting is so expensive.

a meticulous and risky technique

In terms of painting technique, lacquer painting is the opposite of oil painting. While oil painters paint from back to front, meaning the overall scene first and details later, lacquer painting is completely the opposite.

According to Mr. Trung, lacquer paintings are done with details first and the overall scene later, so when finished, the artist cannot see anything underneath. They have to gradually polish the surface to reveal the details and colors. This is why painting lacquer is also accompanied by anxiety. The artist cannot see the image but is always wondering if the materials they used are correct or if the shades are accurate.

"Skilled artists must create a correlation between those elements; otherwise, the work will become too similar to an oil painting," he emphasized.

The value of a painting also comes from the skill and patience of the artist. Each work is unique and unpredictable. The artist has no idea what the work will look like after the sanding process. It could become a valuable piece, or conversely, the artist might have to discard it and start over.

According to Mr. Trung, even artists with solid knowledge and skills can only master 80% of their ideas; the remaining 20% ​​depends entirely on luck. "Sometimes that 20% of chance leads to results exceeding expectations, but other times, if even a small part doesn't meet the requirements, the artist is forced to redraw," Mr. Trung shared.

After painting, the artist must let the paint dry, so humidity is a particularly important factor.

"Ideally, the humidity indoors should be around 70-80%. On dry days, the paint doesn't dry properly. The moisture in the air helps the paint components bond together, creating a drying reaction. If conditions are favorable, the painting can dry in 1-2 days. In dry weather, this process can take more than three days. Therefore, to complete a lacquer painting, an artist may need a whole month," he shared.

The final step in creating a lacquer painting is polishing with charcoal powder. After this step is completed, the surface of the painting will have a smooth, glossy finish. It is precisely this meticulous and risky process that creates the unique and distinctive style of Vietnamese lacquer paintings, elevating the value of each artwork.

Challenges are what bring joy to an artist.

Although artists can't predict the final outcome of their work with 100% accuracy, the suspense and uncertainty are what bring joy and motivation to these passionate artists.

"When a traditional lacquer painting is finished, almost nothing is visible underneath. During the painting and polishing process, details gradually emerge, and colors slowly reveal themselves, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement for the artist as they await the final result. This is a feeling that many artists greatly appreciate."

Although lacquer art has existed for thousands of years in countries around the world such as Japan and China, since the beginning of the 20th century, Vietnamese artists have developed a passion for lacquer painting and created a unique art style unlike any other in the world. Let's explore this unique art form through a report by Business Insider.

Huyen Chau