Album of Buddhist Paintings by Yi Sang-jwa

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.593

Category

Books & Records

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1975

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.538427, 126.965444

This album of paintings of Buddhist figures by Yi Sang-jwa (1465-?), a painter of early Joseon, measures 31.1㎝ by 50.7㎝. Although born into the nobi (slave) class, Yi Sang-jwa was noted for his gift in painting and earned a place among the court painters working for the royal painting agency, Dohwaseo. He excelled particularly in figure painting. Works in this album, portraying Arhats who attain enlightenment through Buddha’s sermons, are ink sketches on paper. Judging from numbers written above the heads of Arhats, the album appears to have included paintings of the Sixteen Arhats. Currently, only five of them remain. Although preparatory drawings, these sketches are impressive for the liveliness and elegance of brushstrokes and the quality of depiction of the figures. The faces, drawn in thin lines, have delicate details. Thin and thick lines are appropriately combined in drawing the clothes. This album, offering glimpses into the style of Yi Sang-jwa, an early-Joseon painter with a superlative talent, is of great significance also for research in techniques used for figure paintings in this period.

Location