Album of Genre Paintings by Kim Hong-do

The Album of Genre Paintings by Kim Hong-do comprises 25 genre paintings in album form by Kim Hong-do, a painter of the late Joseon period. Danwon Kim Hong-do (1745–?) painted on a variety of subjects, including immortals, portraits and landscapes, but is better known as a painter of genre scenes. The paintings are done in ink and light colour on paper, each sheet measuring about 22.4 cm wide and 26.6 cm high. The album includes works such as Ssireum (Korean Wrestling), Blacksmith's Forge and Village School, depicting the everyday life and occupations of ordinary people in a warm and humorous manner. Most of the paintings omit the surrounding background and focus on the figures, who are often given round, smiling faces, adding further humour. The bold, vigorous brushstrokes and well-organised compositions fill the pictures with vitality while capturing the everyday feelings of common people and a distinctly Korean sense of humour. Taking as their essence the realism and social character of ordinary people's lively daily lives, and being themed on those lives, these genre paintings are valuable material offering a glimpse into the society of their time.

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Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물