The Secret of the Joseon Portraits | Current Exhibitions::NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Past Special

The Secret of the Joseon Portraits

Location
Special Exhibition Gallery
Date
Sep-27-2011 ~ Nov-06-2011
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○ Exhibits: about 200 works of Portrait drawings including "Portrait of Seo Jik-su" by Yi Myeong-gi and Kim Hong-do and "Korean Man" by Peter Paul Rubens

The first big exhibition of portraits to be held at the National Museum of Korea in 32 years, this event brings together the major portraits from Korea, China, and Japan, as well as portraits of Koreans painted by Western artists. Among the 200 featured works are the most famous Korean portraits such as the Portrait of King Taejo, Portrait of Seo Jik-su and Self-portrait of Yun Du-seo as well as works kept in other countries. To boost visitors’ understanding of the production process and function of portraits in the Joseon period, the exhibition also features the recreation of a yeongdang, a shrine for the portraitof an eminent person, and a display of related clothing.

The Secret of the Joseon Portraits is an important exhibition not only because it points to new directions for research into the subject of Joseon portraiture but is also expected to mark a turning point in the analysis of portraits according to period and the use of historical materials.

The exhibition is divided into four parts. Parts 1 and 2 explores portraits produced at the royal court, which was the major force behind the development of portraiture at the time, and portraits that reflect the relationship between the king and his subjects under concept of the Three Bonds and Five Relationships of Confucianism. Parts 3 and 4 focus on the beauty of form and characteristic features that appeared in Joseon portraiture. They also feature portraits that depart somewhat from tradition, hence showing greater individuality.

Part 1: Heaven and Earth