Yean Gimssi Gajeon Gyehoedo (Collection)

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1616

Category

Painting

Designated year

2009

Location

동구, 부산광역시— 부산광역시 동구

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

This is an ensemble of three paintings depicting scenes of social gatherings from the 16th to the early 17th century. They are believed to have been handed down in the family of the Kim clan of Yean. “Chugwan gyehoedo” depicts the scene of a gathering of nanggwan (fiscal officials) of Chugwan (another name for Hyeongjo which is equivalent to today’s Ministry of Justice). Nanggwan were officials of fifth to sixth rank, and this gathering was attended by four fifth rank officials and four sixth rank officials. The attendant from the Kim family of Yean was Kim Sa-mun. This work, in the classical style of mid-16th-century paintings of government officials’ gatherings having an outdoor landscape as the backdrop, is remarkable for the quality of depiction of both figures and landscape elements. “Giseong ipjiksajudo” commemorates the king’s bestowal of wine on those who were newly admitted into Giseong (another name for Byeongjo, equivalent to today’s Ministry of Defense). This painting is a government officials’ gathering painting in the same style as “Chugwan gyehoedo,” and the member of the Kim family of Yean who attended the meeting was Kim Reuk. The meeting appears to have taken place inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, and this painting, outstanding in its highly realistic depiction of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Gwanghwamun Gate is of great significance for the study of the history of Joseon’s art and architecture. “Geumo gyehoedo,” meanwhile, is the visual record of a gathering of officials of Geumo (another name for Uigeumbu, the high criminal investigation bureau), which was attended by Kim Ji-seon, a scion of the Kim clan of Yean. Although dating from the dawn of the 17th century, shortly after the end of the Imjin War, or the Japanese Invasion of 1592, this painting shows the lingering influence of mid-16th century social gathering paintings. Both the landscape and figures are depicted cursorily and in an extremely stylized manner. This painting is an example of works showing regressive characteristics that were produced during the transition period in which the old style of social gathering paintings from prior to the Imjin War was slowly fading away, but a new style to replace it was yet to emerge. These paintings of three government officials’ gatherings attended by members of the Kim clan of Yean of three different generations have been handed down in the family for several hundred years. These rare relics have been also continuously taken care of with new layers of matting added, as existing ones became weakened.