Viewing Joseon Through Gyeomjae's Brush... 'Jeong Seon the Man' Captured in 216 Works

[Financial News] A scholar sits on a veranda, gazing at a flowerpot. A sense of leisure emanates from the hand holding a fan and the shoes left off. This is 'Dokseoyeoga,' believed to be a self-portrait of Jeong Seon (Gyeomjae) (1676–1759). The daily life of the master who painted the landscapes of Joseon is captured in this painting.
The special exhibition 'Gyeomjae Jeong Seon: Painting Joseon Through the Eyes of Joseon,' opening on the 16th at the Daegu Kansong Museum of Art, sheds light on 'Jeong Seon the Man' in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of his birth. Co-planned by the Kansong Art & Culture Foundation and the Samsung Foundation of Culture, the exhibition showcases a total of 216 works across 84 entries, including National Treasures and Treasures, with some pieces being rotated during the run. According to the museum, this is the largest domestic exhibition ever organized exclusively with Jeong Seon's works.■ Daily Life and Friendship Captured in AlbumsThe entire collection of paintings from The Album of Famous Scenic Attractions in the Capital Region and Haeak Jeonshincheop, owned by the Kansong Art & Culture Foundation, is being unveiled in one place for the first time. The Album of Famous Scenic Attractions in the Capital Region, placed at the beginning of the exhibition, features Jeong Seon's face, his home, the Yangcheon government office where he worked, and the spaces of his teachers and friends.
Heo Yong, Chief Curator of the Daegu Kansong Museum of Art, explained at a press conference on the 15th, "We placed the emphasis of the planning on shedding light on a figure who is not well known compared to the fame of his works." In fact, the exhibition's chronology is organized based on Jeong Seon's age, helping visitors follow the artist's growth and life.
'Chokjae Jesi' is imbued with the friendship shared with his lifelong friend, Yi Byeong-yeon. When Jeong Seon urged him to write a poem, Yi Byeong-yeon replied by sending paper and asking for a painting first. Knowing the anecdote of the two exchanging poems and paintings adds warmth to the landscapes within the album.
The Treasure 'Cheongpunggye,' displayed in a separate space, is connected to the Jangdong Kim clan, who patronized Jeong Seon. The support of his teacher, Kim Chang-heup, and his family underpinned the painter's social and artistic foundation.
Cho Ji-yoon, Head of the Collection Research Department at the Leeum Museum of Art, assessed that it was refreshing to be able to unfold The Album of Famous Scenic Attractions in the Capital Region together to view its full scope, whereas it was displayed thematically at last year's exhibition at the Ho-Am Art Museum.
■ From the Scenery of Yeongnam to Mount GeumgangThe section dedicated to regional scenic spots explores the footsteps of Jeong Seon, who served as a local official in Hayang and Cheongha. Landscapes of the Yeongnam region, such as 'Dalseongwonjodo' depicting Daegu, 'Dosanseowon Confucian Academy' captured on a fan, and 'Naeyeonsan Samyongchu' in Pohang, have been collected separately. 'Dalseongwonjodo' will be on display until November 22, after which it will be replaced by 'Haeinsa Temple'.
Jeong Seon's individuality is revealed even outside of landscape painting. 'Yeosanchotang,' which depicts the story of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi, captures the essence of Joseon in the attire of the figures and the scenery. In 'Chuilhanmyo' from the 'Album of Flowers and Animal Paintings,' one encounters a delicate gaze directed at chrysanthemums and a cat.
In the last exhibition room, eight paintings of Mount Geumgang, including the National Treasure 'Geumgang jeondo' and the Treasure 'Pungaknaesanchongnam,' are gathered. Within a composition that overlooks the entire mountain, one can compare the differences in the majestic mountain scenery, detailed depictions, and the way the seasons are expressed.
The 'Album of Mount Geumgang (Pungak-docheop)' (1711) and Haeak Jeonshincheop (1747) demonstrate a change in painting style. The brush, which had carefully depicted details, became much freer in his later years, revealing the essence of the scenery even through omission. Between the works depicting the same mountain, the time the painter had accumulated lies.
Jeon In-geon, Director of the Daegu Kansong Museum of Art, said, "What I wanted to shed light on in this exhibition is the story of the figure Gyeomjae," adding, "It would be good to view the exhibition while imagining what kind of life Gyeomjae lived and why he painted these pictures."
The exhibition runs through December 27. Admission is 14,000 won for adults and 7,000 won for children and teenagers. It is closed every Monday and on the day of Chuseok.
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