국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
"Korean Traditional Wrestling" from the Album of Genre Paintings by Kim Hong-do
  • Nationality/Period

    Joseon Dynasty

  • Materials

    Paper

  • Author

    Kim Hong-do(金弘道, 1745-after 1806)

  • Category

    Culture / Art - Letter & Paintings - Paintings - painting

  • Dimensions

    26.9x22.2cm(Image, Album)

  • Designation

    Treasure 527

  • Accession Number

    Bongwan 6504 - 22

Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Korean genre painting, “Korean Traditional Wrestling” painted by Kim Hong-do depicts a scene in which two contending wrestlers are encircled by spectators largely divided into two groups, one in the upper part and the other in the lower part of the painting. A toffee vender in the middle left stands outside the spectators’ gaze, yet plays a key role in the effectiveness of this circular composition, while the shoes in the middle right effectively link the two divided groups. In addition to the composition, the painting is highly praised for its brushstrokes, which are delightfully simple yet effective enough to capture the spectators’ expressions and the heated atmosphere of a torrid sporting event.