Painter and teacher Tran Tu Thanh (Source: baotintuc.vn)

Born and raised when the country was still at war, with many relatives in the family participating in the resistance or dying from bombs, painter Tran Tu Thanh is passionate about the theme of revolutionary war and the desire for peace.

He is loved for many works depicting his hometown Ha Tinh, and has won many high domestic and international awards for the propaganda painting genre.

Some typical works include: “Peace and Friendship” (International Graphics Award 1985), “Truong Bon”, “Deo Ngang”, “Nga Ba Dong Loc” (National Fine Arts Exhibition 1995), “Quan Ho Moon” (UNESCO Award 2011).

But perhaps his most successful work, leaving the deepest impression and emotion on the public despite the passing years, is the famous propaganda painting located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.

The painting was originally named “1976” by the author, later changed to “Independence and Unity - Peace and Happiness”, and the public often calls it “Uncle Ho with Children”.

Referring to his life’s work, the octogenarian painter still remembers every detail. After the historic day of April 30, 1975, the country was unified, the country was connected, artist Tran Tu Thanh, who was then a lecturer at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, cherished a work to celebrate the country entering a new page of history.

Part of his idea was formed when he remembered Uncle Ho's wishes in his Will, in which Uncle Ho often mentioned youth, teenagers, children, peace, independence, and national unity.

Choosing the form of propaganda paintings, easy to understand and easy to popularize to the public, artist Tran Tu Thanh began to sketch the painting with colored powder on paper, size 79x54cm, sparing in color and strokes. The painting depicts Uncle Ho smiling affectionately holding a baby, in the background is a dove holding an olive branch symbolizing peace.

The dove's spreading wings resemble the map of Vietnam, and its eyes with the red flag and yellow star are located in the capital Hanoi. The painting has a harmonious and tight composition, each line is soft and neat, although simple, it deeply expresses the joy of independence and unity of the entire Vietnamese people, as well as the hope for future generations.

In 1976, the work was submitted to the first National Fine Arts Exhibition and won second prize. The famous painter Tran Van Can, who was the judge at that time, commented that the painting was concise, impressive, and covered the main ideas: Uncle Ho with the people, Uncle Ho with children, and Uncle Ho with the cause of national unification.

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

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

In addition, the painting has been reproduced many times on postcards, in public art works across the country. Printed copies of the work are displayed in museums in Russia, Cuba, etc.

That achievement, that great pride is probably something that painter Tran Tu Thanh could not have imagined when he was a 16-year-old young man who loved to draw, left his hometown for Hanoi to take the entrance exam to the College of Fine Arts (now the Vietnam University of Fine Arts).

Surpassing 2,000 candidates that year, he became one of 46 candidates who passed the exam. Notably, when he was still a student, artist Tran Tu Thanh had the honor of meeting President Ho Chi Minh, feeling his erudition and warm affection for all classes of people.

Uncle Ho's advice "Culture and art are also a front" followed him throughout his artistic life, motivating him to strive and contribute. In 1969, artist Tran Tu Thanh continued to study Graphic Design at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, then worked as a lecturer and became a manager.

For more than 40 years standing on the podium, he contributed to training many generations of designers and artists for art training institutions in Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Artist Tran Tu Thanh is the one who designed the Party card model used by millions of party members over the past 20 years.

In addition to the painting "Uncle Ho with children", he also created more than 20 other outstanding works about Uncle Ho, such as: Silk painting "Uncle Ho goes to campaign in Viet Bac" (stored at the National History Museum); lacquer painting "Khuoi Nam Diary"; oil painting "Return Day"...

In 2019, the original painting "Uncle Ho with children" was presented by the author to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, so that the heritage can be honored and spread the spirit of love for freedom, love for peace, and care for future generations of Uncle Ho.

Every year, on important national anniversaries such as Uncle Ho's birthday (May 19), National Day (September 2), among the bustling crowd passing through the center of the capital, painter Tran Tu Thanh takes the time to come and quietly stand in a corner of Hoan Kiem Lake to admire the painting.

He confided that there is nothing more proud for an artist than having his work attached to a major street corner in Hanoi, loved by many people, and enjoyed by foreign tourists taking pictures. The painting “Uncle Ho with Children” has entered daily life as a simple, natural, irreplaceable thing./.

Compiled by BTA