Is it true that Ho Chi Minh and Picasso used to be friends?

OK.

I will translate this article:

• Few people know, President Hồ Chí Minh and the Spanish painter – Pablo Picasso once had a close friendship for many decades.

The book “Uncle Ho – a great love” (published by Kim Dong Publishing House in May 2010) tells about the little-known meeting between President Ho Chi Minh and painter Pablo Picasso in Paris, France in 1946.

That meeting took place in an intimate and simple way – a meeting after 35 years of not seeing two like-minded friends who had joined the French Communist Party. This meeting was later told by Mr. Vũ Đình Huỳnh – Uncle Ho’s secretary at that time – and recorded in the book “Uncle Ho – a great love”.

When he was young, Uncle worked as a waiter at a hotel to expand his communication with world famous figures, not just to make a living.

In 1911, Uncle Ho was then 21 years old, just set foot in France, he met and knew the artist Picasso, then 30 years old and a famous painter in Paris. Through participating in a number of art activities, Uncle Ho had several meetings with Picasso and many other artists in the Clarté (Clarity) group.

In 1946, Uncle went to France to attend the Fontainebleau Conference and took advantage of visiting his old friend – the painter Picasso after many years of separation. Coming to France as the head of state – a guest of France, Uncle still did not forget to visit to pay tribute to an artist friend who witnessed his difficult youth – the painter Pablo Picasso.

• That special meeting was recounted by Mr. Vu Dinh Huynh as follows:

One day, Uncle called me to say:

• You give up the military uniform, wear plain clothes, come with me right now.

When I got into the car, the car went a distance, Uncle said:

• Today, we visit the artist Picasso.

I am surprised:

• Do you also know the artist Picasso?

Uncle said:

• Assuming I didn’t know him before, when we come to Paris, we still have to greet a wonderful painting creator whose art makes many people fall in love.

Uncle came unannounced. When Picasso’s maid brought Uncle Ho near the door, the artist recognized him. He rushed to:

• Hello Mr. Nguyen

The two hugged each other. Then Picasso took a step back to look at Uncle:

• You age so quickly, but your eyes are still young and brighter than when we met at the Clarté Group Headquarters.

Picasso took Uncle Ho to see his gallery. Uncle held each picture, absolute silence. I could see the emotion evident in his contemplative face. When he returned to the tea room, Picasso asked Uncle:

• Please give me an advice.

Uncle said:

• We come to admire your art.

All comments about Picasso paintings are just strokes around the frame of the picture

• Don’t ask me – a person who is not very knowledgeable in the art of painting.

Picasso laughed comfortably, his voice cheered up:

• I still remember the picture you drew in the newspaper Le Paria (The Outcast), you signed Nguyen Ai Quoc in Chinese characters. That day I said to Henri Basbusse: “Just these few strokes we can see a thought, a beautiful soul hidden inside”. If you continues the path of painting, maybe there will be a painter Nguyen Ai Quoc. But today, Mr. Nguyen is Ho Chi Minh, who is at the forefront of the struggle for the independence and freedom of his people and of other oppressed peoples.

He invited Uncle to drink water, then sketched some strokes for Uncle Ho’s portrait. When finished, he put it in his drawing paper bag. When he saw Uncle at the door, he gave it to Uncle. After that, Uncle handed it back to me to keep…

Unfortunately, through many turbulent years of war, the portrait has been lost, if it remains, it will be a vivid proof of the friendship between the two great men.

15 years later (August 1961), on the occasion of the 80-year-old Picasso, Uncle Ho sent him a congratulatory letter.

In his letter, he wrote: “Comrade Picasso belongs to people who are always young, because such people are animated in their souls with a passionate love for Good, for Beauty, for peace and for humanity. That love led Picasso to communism. And so, the artist will forever retain his youth.”

*Picasso’s dove symbolizes peace*

Later, Picasso’s granddaughter – Marina Picasso – was also very attached to Vietnam. Marina has long been known as an active participant in many humanitarian activities in Vietnam. She founded a village for orphans in Thủđức City, Ho Chi Minh City with 25 small houses, a row of dormitories, a small clinic, a playground and a swimming pool. The village has welcomed 350 children during its 20 years of operation.

In addition, Ms. Marina Picasso also supports Children’s Hospital (Bệnh viện Nhi Đồng) in Ho Chi Minh City with activities such as raising funds to buy more equipment, supporting professional training courses for doctors and nurses, building and repairing some medical facilities, building in the hospital, giving milk to children…

*Thank you for taking the time to read my translation*

*If there is something wrong in the translation, please comment. I will fix it*

*Thank you very much*

*Have a nice day*