‘Dove on Black Water Pot’ is a large realist oil on canvas painting created by Vietnamese artist Tran Huy Hoan in 2012. Featuring a vivid palette made of a tonality of reds and black, this painting strikes by its serene aura infused with elegance. A young lady, dressed in red and white, is sitting directly on the floor, delicately resting her arm on a large black water pot. We are suddenly led to discover the subject of the title, the graceful dove perched on the top of the vessel. The background, painted in red as well, flows seamlessly between the wall and the floor, in a perfect unity, the area behind the figure receiving more light. We are left with a warm feeling of peace. The themes in Tran Huy Hoan’s work are contradictions within themselves. His work is both innocent and erotic. Each subject is attractive yet affecting. Hoan’s precise technical style is at once influenced by both classical and modern. His smooth brush stroke is combined with the soft monotone color palette he uses, bringing an unexpected warmth to enigmatic subject matter. The female he paints are seductive and contain an air of melancholy. They exist in their own sensually esoteric realm, yet at the same time present a sense of accessibility that draws the observer to them. These mysterious young women captivated the mood of the environment they came from. Unframed, this horizontal oil on canvas realist figurative painting, signed lower left, will bring a serene touch to any décor, perhaps placed above a bed, sofa or enfilade.