Gim Myeong-guk

Gim Myeong-guk (Korean: 김명국, 1600 – after 1662), also known as Kim Myeong-guk, was a painter of the mid Joseon period of Korea.

In this Korean name, the family name is Gim.
Gim Myeong-guk
Dalmado by Gim Myeong-guk
Korean name
Hangul
김명국
Hanja
金明國
Revised RomanizationGim Myeongguk
McCune–ReischauerKim Myŏngguk
Art name
Hangul
연담, 취옹
Hanja
蓮潭, 醉翁
Revised RomanizationYeondam, Chwiong
McCune–ReischauerYŏndam, Ch'wiong
Courtesy name
Hangul
천여
Hanja
天汝
Revised RomanizationCheon-yeo
McCune–ReischauerCh'ŏn'yŏ

Biography

Gim Myeong-guk was born in 1600.[1] He entered the royal service as a member of the Dohwaseo, the official painters of the Joseon court.

Quite immediately, Gim Myeong-guk appeared as a new type of artist, clearly distinctive from his contemporaries, who more or less worked as craftsmen that faithfully replicated mainstream styles. A diplomatic statement is "he was known to have an artistic personality that was characterized by individualism and obstinacy",[2] while an understatement would be "his contemporaries described him as a carefree drunkard, a characterization that corresponds to the Chinese image of the eccentric artist".[1]

Nevertheless, (or precisely for this reason), Gim Myeong-guk has been in charge of many official artistic tasks. He was member of both the large-scale Tongsinsa send to Japan by King Injo (1595–1623–1649). The 1636 delegation was led by Im Gwang (1579–1644), while the 1643 delegation was led by Yun Sunji (1591–1666). "According to one account, Gim became distraught with exhaustion because an endless stream of Japanese enthusiasts, eager to purchase his works, would not allow him a moment of peace".[2] Dalmado (cf infra) was painted during his second trip to Japan.

In 1647, he directed a team of 6 Senior painters (화원) and 66 other people to repair the Changgyeong Palace.[3] Later he was in charge of portraits of meritorious subjects. The circumstances and the year of his death are unknown. His last known painting (Sasipalgyeongdo) dates back to 1662.

Although retained as a court painter, Gim was also a pioneering artist who insisted on creating works that were true to his personality and sentiments.[2]

Most of the Gim Myeong-guk paintings involving people have Buddhist themes (and a specific artistic style). His art name Yeondam ("Lotus pond") has Buddhist connotations.[1] Yi Saek was the scholar official that opposed the overthrowing of Buddhism at the foundation of the Joseon Kingdom.

  • Dalmado (Bodhidharma)
    Dalmado (Bodhidharma)
  • Dalma jeolro gang 달마절로도강 Bodhidharma crossing a river with a broken branch
    Dalma jeolro gang
    달마절로도강
    Bodhidharma crossing a river with a broken branch
  • 이색초상Portrait of Yi Saek 1654
    이색초상
    Portrait of Yi Saek
    1654
  • Giryeodo 기려도 Going on horseback 1650
    Giryeodo 기려도
    Going on horseback
    1650
  • 이상길초상Portrait of Yi Sang-kil1657?
    이상길초상
    Portrait of Yi Sang-kil
    1657?

His landscape paintings are more 'mainstream', but nevertheless specific.


초춘/만춘 early and late spring
초하/만하 early and late summer
초추/만추 early and late autumn
>초동/만동 early and late winter
사시팔경도 - Eight views of the Four Seasons (1662)[4]


The Korean Copyright Commission[5] lists 24 paintings for Gim Myeong-guk, while Towooart[6] gives a short notice.

See also

References
  1. Turner 2003, p. (18)57
  2. . Hong Sun-pyo, Professor of Art History, Ewha Womans University Graduate School (2007). "Creating Masterful Paintings from Brush and Ink". Koreana. The Korean Foundation. 21 (1). Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-04-15.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. (in Korean) Britannica. http://preview.britannica.co.kr/bol/topic.asp?article_id=b03g1578a Archived 2013-07-02 at archive.today
  4. National Museum of Korea, http://211.252.141.1/program/relic/relicDetailImageEng.jsp?menuID=002005002&langCodeCon=LC2&relicID=4417&relicDetailID=17666&searchSelect=NAME&currentPage=2&pageSize=10&back=relicSearchListEng%5B%5D
  5. KCC 2013
  6. TWA 2013

Bibliography
  • Turner, Jane (2003). Grove Dictionary of Art. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 32600. ISBN 978-0-1951-7068-9.
  • KCC (2013). "Kim Myeong-guk". Database (in Korean). Korean Copyright Commission.
  • Arts of Korea, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Gim Myeong-guk
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