Portrait of Master Yul’am

This painting portrays monk Yul’am Chiheup, as stated in the inscription in a cartouche on the upper left, which reads as “The portrait of High Virtuous Seon (Zen) priest, Yul’am Chiheup of the High Virtuous Seon sector.” Master Yul’am was active during the latter part of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). In 1872, he wrote “The Records of the Construction of the Main Shrine in Gwangsan Temple” as part of The Historical Documents of the Temples of Joseon Dynasty.

In this painting, Master Yul’am sits in a chair of which only the supporting back is shown. A green drape with delicate flower-patterned borders covers the back of the chair. Holding a staff in his left hand, he is peacefully gazing slightly right, like most other monk portraits of the time. Depicting only the back support of the chair, portraying the sitter more prominently, and allowing the floor mat to occupy almost half of the background are traits of typical monk portraits produced in the Gyeongsang province during the nineteenth century.