Story of Flower Painting

ㅇ Exhibited Works : Total of 33 works including Narcissus by Shin Myeongyeon

ㅇ Location : Paintings Room in the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery, 2F

In welcoming the New Year, the National Museum of Korea (Director Kim Youngna) is exhibiting new displays in the Paintings Room at the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery. The newly exhibited works are “Joseon Dynasty Flower Paintings” presented just in time for the approaching spring season. The exhibition will display flower paintings by Shin Wi (1769-1847), Shin Myeong-yeon (1809-1886), Nam Gye-u (1811-1888), and Jo Hui-ryong (1789-1866). 

The flower and butterfly paintings were painted by Nam Gye-u, called “Nam Nabi(Butterfly Nam)” for his distinct talent in portraying butterflies. His paintings are based on his studies of butterfly names and their ecology that appear in literature, and on his actual collection of butterflies categorized by species and characteristics. The butterfly paintings are beautiful and delicate, and the violet peonies, white peonies, and blue irises at the bottom of the painting also capture the eye with their delicate brush strokes and splendid colors. 

The 15 flower works by Shin Myeong-yeon are another not-to-be-missed series in the exhibition. Shin Myeong-yeon actively introduced the Qing Dynasty style of painting and subject, and sublimated them into works of art with distinct coloring description appealing to the scholarly taste. His works are thought to have opened a new world for Joseon Dynasty flower painting. His flower paintings are basically drawn by molgolbeop (a brush painting technique where the coloring and shaping are done without ink outlines) and use faint silhouettes, and the color pink mixed with hobun (white pigment). He pioneered in using new subjects such as rose, plantain lily, orchid, narcissus, wisteria blossoms, hydrangea, bleeding heart, and lily etc. His paintings are characterized by the flower colors which do not stop at expressing natural colors, but radiate their own sense of beauty. The delicate and refined colors and the original composition of the paintings seem to bring the traditional and modern aesthetic beauty together in harmony.

The National Museum of Korea Paintings Room exhibition will provide visitors eagerly awaiting spring bloom the opportunity to share Korean ancestors’ love of nature and to enjoy the seasonal changes in nature through the rich and splendid world of Joseon Dynasty flower painting.