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Facebook - Nationality/Period
Joseon Dynasty
- Materials
Paper
- Author
Nam Gye-u(南啓宇, 1811-1888)
- Category
Culture / Art - Letter & Paintings - Paintings - painting
- Dimensions
127.9x28.8cm(Hanging scroll painting)
- Accession Number
Deoksu 719
Butterflies are flying toward flowers in the lower sections of this pair of paintings. The butterflies are presented so realistically that their species can be identified. Gold powder on the wings of the butterflies creates an authentic shiny effect. The harmony between writings and images and the decorative yet graceful depiction demonstrates the tastes of Joseon literati in the nineteenth century. Nam Gye-u (1811-1888) was regarded as the best painter of butterflies of the Joseon period, earning him the nick-name “Butterfly Nam”. This painting of butterflies and flowers contains handwritten inscriptions attesting to his profound knowledge of these insects. Before Nam Gye-u, Jo Hui-ryong (1789-1866) produced numerous butterfly paintings featuring extensive hand-written statements. Butterfly paintings were particularly fashionable in the 18th century.
