The Report of the Third Trip

1. For everyone: You have been sent a picture of Paul Harsac's The Dragon House I want everyone to comment as to "What is the meaning of this oil painting? What is the historical significance? When you view the painting what do you think and what do you feel? How does it assist your understanding of Vietnam's history and culture? How does it represent French colonial architecture?"

After I saw the oil painting named "The Dragon House" painted by Paul Harsac in 1911, I think it is the sight of the Dragon Harbor in French colonial days. At a glance, many people are likely to assume that this is a normal, beautiful and peaceful sight seen and painted from somewhere that the painter can have the whole of an extensive area. However, in my opinion, I think it is not in the peaceful time. The cloud in the sky in this painting has a murky color, and the street without many people is too gloomy. It does not have the bustling joyful atmosphere of an independent country. It means that by an artwork, Paul Harsac probably wanted to convey the spirit of the real life in that period-the years that Vietnam was colonized by French. Besides that, this painting makes me understand more about the culture and history of Vietnam - my country. It was painted in 1911, the year of President Ho Chi Minh's departure to seek ways to save the country. Through this painting, I can sense the atmosphere of French colonial times in Vietnam which now is the history. Furthermore, this painting make me understand more about the French colonial architecture. The big width streets with two sides of big tropical trees, the bright color of art painting in the early 20 century, and especially the architecture of The Dragon House which was combined between western and eastern style are some of French colonial architecture traits.