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Portrait of a gentleman
Portrait of a gentleman

Portrait of a gentleman

Artist (Korean, 1891 - 1970)
Dateapprox. 1930-1940
MaterialsInk and colors on silk
DimensionsImage: H. 35 1/8 in × W. 25 1/8 in (89.2 cm × 63.8 cm)
Framed: H. 35 1/8 in × W. 32 in × D. 1 7/8 in (89.2 cm × 81.3 cm × 4.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Dong Jin Peter Choi
Object number1998.42
DepartmentKorean Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on view
Subject
  • scholar
  • robe
  • hat
More Information

A gentleman is seated on a summer mat decorated with an abstract floral design. He is wearing an informal robe and a two-tiered hat with undulating top edges (similar to the one on display in this gallery). Painter Choe Gwang’ik attempted to combine traditional and modern stylistic features in this portrait. Subtle shading creates a convincingly realistic effect and reveals Choe’s familiarity with Western painting techniques.

After Choe returned to Korea in 1930 from Japan, where he had been trained, he focused on painting portraits of famous historical and legendary figures. He continued into the twentieth century the long tradition of painting commemorative portraits, which were intended to express reverence for ancestors’ spirits and teachings. He updated the tradition of portraits by integrating Western techniques.