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Art of the Korean Renaissance, 1400-1600
This notable catalogue—the first English-language publication on the subject—highlights the art of the early period (1392–1592) of Korea’s revolutionary Joseon dynasty. The Joseon rulers replaced the Buddhist establishment and re-created a Korean society informed on every level by Neo-Confucian ideals. They supported the production of innovative secular art inspired by past traditions, both native and from the broader Confucian world. Yet despite official policies, court-sponsored Buddhist art endured, contributing to the rich complexity of the early Joseon culture.
The exquisite paintings, porcelain and other ceramics, metalware, and lacquerware featured in the book are drawn from the holdings of major Korean and Japanese museums, the collection of the Metropolitan Museum and other U.S. collections; and private collections. Many of the works have never been seen in the United States.
The exquisite paintings, porcelain and other ceramics, metalware, and lacquerware featured in the book are drawn from the holdings of major Korean and Japanese museums, the collection of the Metropolitan Museum and other U.S. collections; and private collections. Many of the works have never been seen in the United States.
- GenresArtNonfiction
140 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2009
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 29, 2014
This book probably puts me in the art nerd category. Yes, I voluntarily requested this book, not for school but because I thought it would be fun. I got this one year for Christmas, and it basically sat on my shelf for a few years. I decided to dust it off again, because Philadelphia Museum of Art was about to feature a Korean art exhibit of the Joseon Dynasty.
It was a fast read, but a bit repetitive. The book only spans 200 years of Korean art history. It starts when Korea had just become an independent state. Confucianism becomes a huge part of culture, which is important since most of the art emulates Chinese art (Confucianism originated in China). Many pieces in the book were inspired by Chinese artists that I remember learning about in my Chinese Art History classes.
The two styles that stuck out the most to me were the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang and buncheong pottery. The Eight Views of Xiaoxiang are paintings on scrolls or screens that depict different parts of the Xiaoxiang region in China. I found the paintings interesting since all sets were trying to depict eight specific “scenes.” For example, there were many panels from different artists representing Evening Bell from Mist-Shrouded Temple. Each artist took a different approach. Buncheong pottery usually had a blue-green glaze. The pottery designs are timeless and looked like they could have been sold in a store today.
Although the book was filled with facts and information, I was left wanting more. The book covers such a small time frame of art history, which is great for learning a lot, but sucks when you’re trying to brush up before going to an art exhibit. To put it simply, it is only about the first 200 years of the Joseon period, not the entire dynasty.
It was a fast read, but a bit repetitive. The book only spans 200 years of Korean art history. It starts when Korea had just become an independent state. Confucianism becomes a huge part of culture, which is important since most of the art emulates Chinese art (Confucianism originated in China). Many pieces in the book were inspired by Chinese artists that I remember learning about in my Chinese Art History classes.
The two styles that stuck out the most to me were the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang and buncheong pottery. The Eight Views of Xiaoxiang are paintings on scrolls or screens that depict different parts of the Xiaoxiang region in China. I found the paintings interesting since all sets were trying to depict eight specific “scenes.” For example, there were many panels from different artists representing Evening Bell from Mist-Shrouded Temple. Each artist took a different approach. Buncheong pottery usually had a blue-green glaze. The pottery designs are timeless and looked like they could have been sold in a store today.
Although the book was filled with facts and information, I was left wanting more. The book covers such a small time frame of art history, which is great for learning a lot, but sucks when you’re trying to brush up before going to an art exhibit. To put it simply, it is only about the first 200 years of the Joseon period, not the entire dynasty.
June 5, 2023
A fair amount of color illustrations but some were used multiple times and I feel that there's something missing. A decent read once on the subject but not a keeper.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews