Grape-Vine Screen
Artist
Ch'oe Sok-hwan
(Korean)
Date1820s
Mediumink on paper; 8-panel folding screen
Dimensions154.9 × 406.4 cm (61 × 160 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineStoddard Acquisition Fund
Object number2000.55
Label TextThis eight panel folding screen is by the early 19th century Korean artist Choe Sokhwan (painting signed with his artistic name Nanggok). He was popular in the southern province of Joellabuk where he lived, but was unknown outside of the region during his lifetime. Scholars began studying him in the twentieth century after Japanese patrons began avidly collecting his work. Choe is known as a painter of grapevines, which he favored because it was an ideal vehicle for demonstrating his mastery with the brush. His grapevine dances across the surface of this magnificent screen painting. The screen would have decorated the interior of a room, most likely a study.
Grapes are not indigenous to Korea, so were considered rare and exotic. The grapevine motif enjoyed great popularity in Korea during the late Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon periods (1392-1910) on ceramics and inlaid lacquer as well a painted screens. The grapevine can convey wishes for many sons because the clusters of plentiful grapes became a symbol of fertility.
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