It became something of Hanoian culture. Nowadays, the images of the old artists who were engulfed in doing portraits are now rarely seen in the modern, bustling streets of Hanoi. Old artists Nguyen Bao Nguyen, who is living at No. 47 Hang Ngang Street, is among the few artists who have continued doing portraits for decades.
Today, Lê brought an old photo to Nguyên’s store to order a portrait of her late mother. Even though the photo can be fixed by modern technology, she decided to have a painting instead. According to Lê, the spirit and demeanour of her mother, a Hanoi woman from the past, can only be fully portrayed through art.
"I have heard that he drew portraits during the end of the French colonial period. He can capture the spirit of people in the picture. He was also born in the same period as my mother. Therefore, he knows about what kind of clothes and jewels women wore in the old days. He also gets the demeanour and manner of women at that time. I believe that he can create a portrait that really reflects my mother." - Truong Thi Thanh Le, Customer.
People have to practice for 3 to 4 years to become a decent portrait painter, or 5 to 10 years or a whole lifetime to become a good painter. This job requires patience, great concentration, and painting knowledge. According to Nguyen, portraiture drawers are not copycats. The key is in making the viewer feel both the aura and spirit of the character in the picture, whether it is a human or still-life.
"When painting a portrait, every detail is important to describe people’s characteristics. When people smile, their eyes and mouths also show that. Every detail in people’s face links together. They describe the mood of the person in the picture." - Nguyen Bao Nguyen, Portrait painter.
Nguyen considers portraiture not just his job, but his life passion. Old, blurry photos become fresh, lively portraits through Nguyen’s thin fingers. With only a few brushes, a small eraser, an easel, and ink made from lamp soot, Nguyen deftly captures the mood and spirit of his subjects. Visitors are captivated by the wrinkles on the forehead of an old woman, the bright smile on the face of a mountain girl, or the upturned face of an old man.
"The 1950s and 1960s were the golden age of portrait drawing. Nowadays, with the robust development of digital photography, the demand for portrait painting has dramatically fallen. Speaking about the future of portrait drawing, for a moment the eyes of Nguyen light up as he says that although digital cameras can do his job much more quickly and efficiently, some people still want high quality portraits drawn with skill in the traditional way." - Damira Kalajzic, Croatian visitor. "People doing this job has been facing many difficulties but I believe the job will continue to exist. As the people’s intellectual level is rising, they are less interested in mass production but preferring custom made products. For example, portrait painting has only one original, so it still has its own value." - Nguyen Bao Nguyen, Portrait painter.
After three days, Lê returns to collect the portrait painting of her mother. She was thrilled by the portrait. Even though many details in the photo were faded, the old artist still captured the image.
"When looking at the picture, I can see my mother spirit, especially in the eyes. I feel like I can meet her in real life. I believe that my father will love this painting.' - Truong Thi Thanh Le, Customer.
If you’re ever in bustling Hang Ngang Street, don’t forget to drop by the small shop of Nguyên where the old artist sits, totally absorbed in his art. Despite the bustling street outside, Nguyen is transported elsewhere by his passion.
