True-view Landscape in Korean Painting of the late Joseon Period (17th-20th century)
Being the week before Korean Thanksgiving it was appropriate that Asia Society Korea Center’s September Monthly Luncheon focused on a very cultural aspect of Korea, traditional art. Dr. Song-Mi Yi, Professor of Emerita at The Academy of Korean Studies gave a lecture called “True-View Landscape of the Late Joseon Period” at the Lotte Hotel Seoul to Asia Society members, the diplomatic community, students and press. Professor Yi, who is also a Global Council Member at the Asia Society, spoke about how “True View” painting refers to landscape painting techniques that started in the 18th century to specifically portray Korean scenery. Professor Yi started the lecture by showing a painting of Geumgang Mountain that had been painted using this method and saying how examples of beautiful landscapes should only be viewed after eating, which was appropriate as lunch had just finished.
Professor Yi explained how before switching to this technique of painting real life landscapes, Korean artists had used the traditional methods of painting based on literary works from prominent authors and books. It was through documentary painting, schools of practical learning and the introduction of Western painting techniques that moved Korea towards portraying real scenery. Professor Yi explained how documentary painting evolved as a way of showing an event taking place at a certain location. Although the landscape of Seoul has changed dramatically in recent years, through this documentary painting we still have a record and representation of what took place and where in the late Joseon period.
Professor Yi was educated at Seoul National University (B.A.), UC Berkeley (M.A.) and Princeton University (Ph.D.). Her recent publications on Korean painting include Searching for Modernity: Western Influence and True-View Landscape in Korean Painting of the Late Joseon Period, the award winning Joseon Dynasty book Royal Wedding in Art Historical Perspective and Korean Landscape Painting: Continuity and Innovation Through the Ages. Professor Yi showed many examples of this “True View” style of painting throughout her lecture before inviting questions from those in attendance.