The Art of Resistance: Sketches of the Vietnamese National Liberation Front 1964 - 1965 Part I

In 1967 Liberation Publishing House -- which was the publishing house of the South Vietnamese National Liberation Front -- put out a remarkable series of folders that contained sketches drawn by artists who were on the front line of the fight to liberate South Vietnam.

Called "South Vietnam Land and People" these amazing portraits of resistance run from drawings of sites that had been bombed by the Americans, to liberated villages, to individual guerrilla fighters. All were originally done in pen or crayon and date from 1964 or 1965 (with one exception from 1966).

While there are sketches from several artists, the most, by far, are by a remarkable artist Huynh Phuong Dong. Dong, happily, survived the war and died at the age of 88 in 2015. He is regarded in Vietnam as one of the greatest creators of what is called 'Liberation Art'.

These folders were accompanied by a brief but very moving leaflet that speaks of the terrible brutality and barbarity of the war and the spirit of resistance.

In this first of two parts showing some of the sketches they are divided by artist and are accompanied by their title/subject.

(Click on images to enlarge)

Artist: Nguyen Van Kinh

In an Underground Shelter

Artist: Co Tan Long Chau

Rehearsal In an Underground Shelter

Ba Hong, A Pace-Setter for Carrying Supplies

for the Liberation Armed Forces

Artist: Le Hong Hai

After a US Raid 1966

Artist: Thai Ha

Cartridges Seized From the Enemy

A Young Soldier

A Partisan

Studying

Peasants' Grain Contribution to the Armed Forces

A Liaison Agent

A Young Guerrilla

Summing Up a Political Struggle

In a Communications-Tunnel

Drawing Lessons From a Political Struggle

Artist: Huynh Phuong Dong

A Village Scene

On the Mekong River

Checking the Enemy's Advance

Mrs. Ngau, An Experienced NFL Cadre

At Thanh-Thoi Village (Ben-Tre)

A View of Ben-Tre

Mr. Chanh, A Liaison Agent

A Woman Guerrilla of Cu-Chi

Nhi-Bina Marketplace After Liberation

A Resistance Fighter

A Boat

Nguyen Thi Nghe, A Responsible Cadre at Tan Phu-Dong

Preparing Breakfast in the Forest

After a US Air Raid

A Victim of US Bombing

Thom After Liberation

Thom (Ben-Tre) in the Liberated Zone

Nhu-Tao Marketplace

An-Thanh Village After US Bombing

Linh-Phung Village After US Bombing

An Evening Class in a Liberated Village

A Bridge Destroyed by Guerrillas

Barges Hidden Under a Grove

Mrs. Nam, A Canteen Keeper

A Guerrilla

A Bomb Crater at Linh-Phung School

A Guerrilla

See also: Sketches of the Soviet Union in the 70's: Anton Refregier -- Part II Ukraine, Latvia, Armenia, Turkmenia and Georgia

See also: Sketches of the Soviet Union in the 70's: Anton Refregier -- Part I Moscow and Leningrad