Nature scenes of the Joseon Dynasty

Landscape painting “Wuhwa Deungseon” by Joseon-era artist Gyeomjae Jeong Seon (1676-1759). This and 49 other landscape paintings are shown at Dong San Bang Gallery in Jongno District, central Seoul, until Dec. 13. Provided by Dong San Bang Gallery

A new exhibition of landscape paintings from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) will give art lovers a reminder of the diversity of mother nature in Korea.

The exhibition “Landscape Paintings in Late Joseon Era in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter” at Dong San Bang Gallery in Jongno District, central Seoul, shows how the landscape can look different according to the change of seasons. The gallery specializes in showing traditional Korean paintings. It also had a more general exhibition of Joseon-era paintings in March this year.

This time, about 50 piece of art by 24 different artists and writers from the early 17th to early 20th century will be displayed, including pieces by Jeong Seon (1676-1759), who is better known as Gyeomjae. It is worth taking a look since some pieces are being shown to the public for the first time through this exhibition.

The most attractive paintings would be the two-painting set named “Yeonggang Imsulcheop,” or a pack which is divided into three bundles. The entire set was painted by Gyeomjae of the landscape around the Imjin River near Gyeonggi as two aristocrats working in the region were enjoying a boat ride on the river with Gyeomjae in 1742, when he was 66. Gyeomjae recorded their ride as silk paintings. Only one of the three paintings had been shown until now.

Another set was shown for the first time via this exhibition, including a landscape painting called “Wuhwa Deungseon.”

“The newly introduced paintings show more smooth changes in ink saturation,” said Lee Tae-ho, an art history professor at Myongji University, who worked with the gallery to plan the ongoing exhibition. “The painting is one of the works from the heyday of Gyeomjae, and it can be considered one of the most valuable ancient paintings at a private gallery since Korea’s independence.” The painting “Imgye Ruok” of Joseon-era calligrapher Kim Don-hee (1871-1936) is also introduced to the public for the first time through this exhibition along with artist Sim Sa-jeong (1707-1769)’s “Simsan Wunhae” and “Banghwang Gongmang Sansudo,” all of which show the beauty of nature in Korea.

*The exhibition “Landscape Paintings in Late Joseon Era in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter” runs through Dec. 13 at Dong San Bang Gallery in Jongno District, central Seoul. Admission is free.

For more information, call (02) 733-5877.

By Lee Sun-min [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]