The story of the painting of President Ho Chi Minh with children in the capital city.

Việt Nam•21/05/2024

The original and some sketches of the painting are preserved at the Ho Chi Minh Museum ( Hanoi ).

The artist behind this painting is a prominent figure in the art world, known for his simple and humble style. He is painter and teacher Tran Tu Thanh (born in 1944 in Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh province), former Vice Rector of the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts.

Born and raised during a time of war, with many family members participating in the resistance or dying from bombs and bullets, artist Tran Tu Thanh was passionate about revolutionary war themes and the aspiration for peace.

He is beloved for his many paintings depicting his hometown of Ha Tinh, and has also won numerous prestigious national and international awards for his propaganda paintings.

Some notable works include: "Peace and Friendship" (International Graphic Art Award 1985), "Truong Bon", "Deo Ngang", "Dong Loc Crossroads" (National Fine Arts Exhibition 1995), "Quan Ho Moon" (UNESCO Award 2011)...

But perhaps his most successful work, the one that left the deepest impression and emotion on the public even after all these years, is the famous propaganda painting located on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake.

The painting was originally titled "1976" by the artist, later changed to "Independence, Unity, Peace, and Happiness," but is commonly known by the public as "Uncle Ho with Children."

Recounting his masterpiece, the elderly artist, now in his eighties, still remembers every detail. After the historic day of April 30, 1975, when the country was unified and the land was reunited, artist Tran Tu Thanh, then a lecturer at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, conceived a work to celebrate the nation's entry into a new chapter in its history.

Part of his ideas were formed when he recalled President Ho Chi Minh's wishes in his Last Will and Testament, in which he frequently mentioned youth, teenagers, and children, as well as peace, independence, and national unity...

After months of reflection, one day he found inspiration in the verses of the poem "We March Forward" by the poet Tố Hữu: "Our hearts share one Uncle Ho / Our hearts share one Capital City / Our hearts share one Vietnamese destiny."

Choosing a form of propaganda art that is easy to understand and disseminate to the masses, artist Tran Tu Thanh began sketching a painting using watercolors on paper, measuring 79x54cm, with minimal colors and strokes. The painting depicts President Ho Chi Minh smiling affectionately and embracing a child, with a dove holding an olive branch in the background, symbolizing peace.

The dove's outstretched wings resemble the map of Vietnam, while its eye, bearing the colors of the red flag with a yellow star, is located in the capital city of Hanoi. The painting has a harmonious and tight composition, with each line soft and neat. Though simple, it profoundly expresses the joy of independence and unity of the entire Vietnamese nation, as well as the hope entrusted to future generations.

In 1976, the work was submitted to the first National Fine Arts Exhibition and won second prize. The renowned painter Tran Van Can, who was a judge at the time, commented that the painting was concise, impressive, and encompassed major themes: President Ho Chi Minh with the people, President Ho Chi Minh with children, and President Ho Chi Minh with the cause of national reunification.

After being exhibited alongside works by artists from all three regions of Vietnam at the Van Ho Exhibition Center (Hanoi), the painting was printed in 50,000 copies by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and distributed nationwide to celebrate the general election for the National Assembly of a unified Vietnam.

In 1978, the painting was printed in large format by the city of Hanoi and hung in front of the building at 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, becoming one of the inseparable symbols of Hanoi - the City for Peace - for the past 46 years.

In addition, the painting has been reproduced numerous times on postcards and in public art installations throughout the country. Printed copies of the work are displayed in museums in Russia, Cuba, and other countries.

That achievement, that immense pride, was perhaps something that artist Tran Tu Thanh could never have imagined when he was a 16-year-old youth passionate about drawing, leaving his hometown to go to Hanoi to take the entrance exam for the College of Fine Arts (now the Vietnam University of Fine Arts).

Out of over 2,000 applicants that year, he was one of the 46 successful candidates. Notably, while still a student, artist Tran Tu Thanh had the honor of meeting President Ho Chi Minh, experiencing his erudition and warm affection for all people.

President Ho Chi Minh's admonition, "Culture and art are also a battlefront," guided him throughout his artistic career, motivating him to strive and dedicate himself. In 1969, painter Tran Tu Thanh continued his studies in Graphic Design at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, then worked as a lecturer and later became an administrator.

Having spent over 40 years teaching, he contributed to training many generations of designers and artists for art schools in Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Artist Tran Tu Thanh is the designer of the Party membership card that has been used by millions of Party members for the past 20 years.

Besides the painting "Uncle Ho with Children," he also created more than 20 other outstanding works about Uncle Ho, including: the silk painting "Uncle Ho on a Campaign in Viet Bac" (stored at the National Historical Museum); the lacquer painting "Khuoi Nam Diary"; the oil painting "The Day of Return"...

In 2019, the original painting "Uncle Ho with Children" was donated by the artist to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, so that the heritage could be honored and the spirit of love for freedom, love for peace, and care for future generations, as exemplified by Uncle Ho, could be spread.

Every year, on important national anniversaries such as President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19th) and National Day (September 2nd), amidst the bustling crowds in the heart of the capital, artist Tran Tu Thanh always takes the time to come and quietly stand in a corner of Hoan Kiem Lake to admire the painting.

He confided that for an artist, nothing is more gratifying than having their work associated with a major street corner in Hanoi, loved by many, and enjoyed by foreign tourists who take photos with it. The painting "Uncle Ho with Children" has become an integral part of daily life, a simple, natural, and irreplaceable element.

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