Tran Luu Hau (1928-2020) was one of the pivotal figures in modern Vietnamese art, whose life
and work spanned crucial periods in his country's history. Born in Ninh Binh province, Hau
began his artistic journey during Vietnam's struggle for independence, participating in the 1945
August Revolution at age 17.

Hau's formal artistic education started in 1950 at the School of Fine Arts in Viet Bac, where he
studied under renowned artist To Ngoc Van. This "Resistance Course" deeply influenced his
early style, blending patriotic themes with evolving personal expression. Hau was part of the "4
pillars" of painters from this Resistance Course, alongside Luu Cong Nhan, Le Huy Hoa, and
Nguyen Trong Kiem. These artists, often referred to as "Nhan - Hoa - Hau - Kiem," were
instrumental in shaping modern Vietnamese art.

After studying at Surikov Institute in Moskow (1955-1962), Hau returned to Vietnam and began
a 26-year tenure as a lecturer at the Vietnam Fine Arts University. As an educator, he nurtured a
generation of artists who would become significant figures in Vietnamese art, including Chu
Hung Son, Luong Xuan Doan, Pham An Hai, Le An Van, Thanh Chuong, and Dang Xuan Hoa.
These notable students built upon Hau's artistic foundations, contributing to the evolution of
modern Vietnamese art through their own acclaimed works and influential roles in the art
community.

Hau's artistic development can be mapped through distinct phases. His early works, influenced
by social realism, focused on resistance themes and everyday life. From the 1980s, he moved
towards more expressive styles, and by the 1990s-2000s, his work became increasingly abstract,
showcasing a gradual shift towards abstraction in his later years. His themes evolved with his life
experiences: early works reflected Vietnam's socio-political climate, while later pieces explored
landscapes, still life, and figurative subjects, particularly female figures.

His time in Moscow exposed him to various international art movements, including Post
Impressionism, Fauvism, and early forms of Abstract Expressionism. These influences
significantly shaped his artistic vision, impacting his use of color, form, and abstraction, defining
his unique contribution to Vietnamese modern art. Hau's style is characterized by vibrant colors,
dynamic brushwork, and a gradual move towards abstraction. He worked in various media,
including oil, acrylic, silk, and color powder. His later works often depicted landscapes and
figures, fusing Vietnamese themes with modernist techniques.

Tran Luu Hau played a crucial role in bridging traditional and contemporary Vietnamese art. He
continued painting prolifically into his 90s, producing up to 200 works annually in his later
years. Hau's legacy lies not only in his vast body of work but also in his influence on subsequent
generations of Vietnamese artists, encouraging them to find their unique voice in a changing
artistic landscape.