View of Nong'eun Villa from Yukgang Hill

This painting depicts a quiet estate in Seoul nestled among trees and mountains. A stream runs along the right side of the estate, which is encircled by double walls. Three men attended by a boy are enjoying the view from a hill in the foreground. This intimate view of a private villa was painted with soft washes and dark, wet brushstrokes.

This work belongs to a genre commonly known as “true view” landscape painting in Korea. Breaking away from the conventions of his predecessors, who painted imaginary, idealized landscapes, Jeong Seon traveled throughout the Korean peninsula painting real scenic places that had personal and cultural meaning. This painting is noteworthy as it demonstrates the artist’s emphasis on views from scenic overlooks in depicting real landscapes. According to the inscription written by Jeong’s friend, the painting depicts the Nong’eun Villa specifically viewed from Yukgang hill in Seoul. Jeong signed the painting with his pen name, Gyeomjae, and included two square intaglio seals reading “Jeong” and “Seon.”