X 
Facebook - Nationality/Period
Joseon Dynasty
- Materials
Silk Fabric - Silk
- Category
Culture / Art - Letter & Paintings - Paintings - painting
- Dimensions
113.6×49.1cm(Each panel, Folding screen)
- Accession Number
Deoksu 4481
This inclusive urban panorama depicts the myriad activities of every conceivable class and lifestyle in a city, and thus could be categorized as a genre painting of life within the castle walls. It includes numerous scenes that would more typically have served as the central subject matter of a late Joseon genre painting, such as a wedding, the parade of a noblewoman, and the awarding of first-place in the civil service examination. People of various classes and occupations—business professionals, laborers, and farmers—are shown both working and enjoying leisure, and numerous passersby, children, elderly people, and monks are also in view. This lively, multifaceted depiction of urban life represents the ideal society to which the Joseon people aspired. The format of the painting is strongly inspired by Along the River During the Qingming Festival (淸明上河圖, also known as the “Qingming Scroll”), a panoramic Song Dynasty painting which was frequently reproduced starting from the Ming Dynasty. This influence is evident not only in the overall format, but also in the clothing and architecture, which appear very Chinese. Still, the culture, customs, and objects depicted in the painting resonate with the contemporaneous features of Joseon, making this a compelling case of creative reception and reinterpretation rather than mere imitation. This painting captures the development of a monetary economy and thriving commerce that centered around Seoul beginning in the late 17th century. It also conveys how Chinese culture was actively received and embraced by Joseon, which regularly sent envoys to China as part of its diplomatic relationship with the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century.
