Korean Traditional Painting

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With its roots in the unique line and colors of the East, traditional Korean painting is very different from Western painting.

The earliest known Korean paintings were murals painted on the walls of tombs of the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C. - A.D. 668) that have provided much of the available information on the lifestyles of the time. During the later Goryeo Dynasty, Buddhism reached is peak, leaving many previous Buddhist paintings and images in temples around the country. Confucianism became the primary ideology of the Chosun (Joseon) Dynasty (1392-1910) and the upper-class intellectuals who produced much of the art were profoundly influenced by Chinese works. Folk painting, which became popular among the lower classes, was not influenced by any particular school but used free, expressive technique and bright color to depict the strength, humor and leisure of daily life.

Western styles were introduced and gained a degree of prevalence during the Japanese Colonial Period. After liberation in 1945, interest in both Korean and Western styles of painting grew rapidly. Today, Korean artists engage in both traditions, often fusing them in new and surprising ways.

There are many art museums and commercial galleries in and around Seoul that feature works by both Korean and foreign artists. Up until very recently, and often still, paintings were priced by size – the bigger the work, the more expensive it is. Contemporary Korean artists are exploring a variety of styles and developing their own vision more and more, as opposed to the past when you had to follow very rigid rules in order to be recognized.

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