Jeong Seon

Korean painter (1676–1759)

Jeong Seon (; 1676 – 20 April 1759) was a Korean landscape painter, also known by the art names Gyeomjae and Nangok. His ja was Wonbaek. His works include ink and oriental water paintings, such as Inwangjesaekdo (1751), Geumgang jeondo (1734), and Ingokjeongsa (1742), as well as numerous "true view" landscape paintings on the subject of Korea and the history of its culture. He is counted among the most famous Korean painters. The landscape paintings that he produced reflect most of the geographical features of Korea. His style is realistic rather than abstract.

Jeong was born on 16 February 1676, in the Jongno District of Seoul, in the Cheongun dong neighborhood. He was the eldest son of Jeong Si ik (1638–1689), the descendant of an illustrious and gentry family that originally came from Gwangju. Soon in infancy, he was noted for his artistic talents and is said to have painted daily, with a prolific output until old age. But his family was so poor that he couldn't become a scholar painter (a yangban painting for leisure). Nevertheless, he was introduced in a circle of powerful neighbors and was, on their recommendation, allowed to work for the Dohwaseo (Joseon Bureau of Paintings) and also created landscapes for patrons and clients. In his 36th year (1711), he toured Mt. Geumgang with Pak Tae yu (1648–1746), the local governor, and produced the 13 paintings Album Pungak Mountain, Sin myo Year. The next year, another trip to Mt. Geumgang produced the 30 paintings Album Realistic Representations of Sea and Mountains. Both albums were augmented by various poems written by Jeong Seon's protectors. His self chosen pen name Gyeomjae (i. e. "humble study") was reflecting this asymmetrical relationship. In 1716, in his 41st year, he was granted a tenure of Geomgyosu (兼敎授; professor extraordinary) at Gwansanggam (觀象監; the Office for Observance of Natural Phenomena). This was taking into account the fact that Jeong Seon was from beginning proficient at Book of Changes(周易) and Astronomy. But this gave him further impetus and an official position. He served as district magistrate of Hayang (1721–1726), of Cheongha (c. 1733), and of Yangcheon (1740–1745). Later in life, he was honored by King Yeongjo, who bestowed on him the official title of the fourth rank in 1754 and the second rank in 1756.

Jeong is one of the most famous Korean painters. He inspired other Korean artists to follow suit, leaving a lasting impact on Korean art. He was the most eminent painter in the late Joseon period. Jeong explored the scenic beauty of the capital city of Hanyang (Seoul), the Han River, the Sea of Japan, and the Diamond Mountain. He is the first painter of true view Korean landscapes. Differing from earlier techniques and traditional Chinese styles, he created a new style of painting depicting the virtues of Korea. By the end of the decade, Jeong had developed his own, more realistic style, likely under the influence of the [Silhak] movement. This set him apart from the then prevailing Chinese literati tradition of idealised and abstract landscape art. His grandson, Jeong Hwang (鄭榥, 1737–? ), displayed the true view landscape style in addition to genre painting.

Jeong was one of the few known Korean painters to depart from traditional Chinese styles. It is reported that he frequently left his studio and painted the world around him, as he could see it. His paintings are classified as part of the Southern School, but he developed his own style by realistically portraying natural scenes such as mountains and streams with bold strokes of his brush. A major characteristic of his work is intermixed dark and light areas, created by layers of ink wash and lines. His mountains are punctuated by forests, which in turn are lightened by mists and waterfalls. Vegetation is made from dots, a technique that bears the influence of Chinese painter Mi Fei (1052–1107). Jeong's style would influence generations of Korean artists, and become one of the iconic images of Korean nationalism.

#TitleHangulYearTechnique & size HxLLocationIllustration 1. Inwangjesaekdo 인왕제색도 1751 ink and oil painting79.2 cm × 138.2 cm Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art 2. Geumgang jeondoSpring View of Mt. Diamond 금강전도 1734 Ink and oriental water color on paper130.7 cm × 94.1 cm Ho Am Art Museum 3. Geumgang jeondo Complete View 금강전도 1750s color on silk 33.3 x 54.6 cm Order of St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey 4. Pungaknaesan chongramdo Autumn View of Mt. Diamond 풍악내산총람도 楓岳內山摠覽圖 1740s color on silk 100.8×73.8 cm Gansong Art Museum 5. Ingok Yugeo Jeon Seon's secluded house below Mt. Inwang 인곡유거도 仁谷幽居圖
1742 ink and slight color on paper27.5 x 27.3 cm Gansong Art Museum 6. Soyojeong 소요정逍遙亭 18th century Ink and oriental water color on silk130.7 cm × 94.1 cm Private collection 7. Cheongpunggye 청풍계淸風溪 18th century Ink and oriental water color on silk96.5 x 36.1 cm Museum of Korea University 8. Bakyeon Fall 박연폭포朴淵瀑布 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper119.4×51.9 cm Private collection 9. Gwangjin 광진廣津 18th century Ink and oriental water color on silk20 x 31.5 cm Gansong Art Museum 10. Jaha dong a village in Jongno gu 자하동紫霞洞 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper33.7 x 29.5 cm Gansong Art Museum 11. Gaehwasa Temple 개화사 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper31 x 24.8 cm Gansong Art Museum 12. Dongjakjin 동작진 銅雀津 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper18.5 x L=27.5  cm Private collection 13. Gwiraejeong 귀래정歸來亭 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper23 x 25 cm Private collection 14. Isujeong 이수정二水亭 18th century Ink and oriental water color on silk23 x 25 cm Private collection 15. Dosan Seowon 도산서원도 18th century Private collection 16. Jukseoru 죽서루 1738 Ink and oriental water color on paper32.3 x 57.8 cm Gansong Art Museum 17. Changuimun 창의문彰義門 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper29.5 x 33.2 cm National Museum of Korea 18. Ingokjeongsa 인곡정사仁谷精舍 1742 Ink and oriental water color on paper22.5 x 32.5 cm Private collection 19. Mangyangjeong 망양정 18th century Ink and oriental water color on paper32.3 x 57.8 cm Gansong Art Museum 20. Chuil hanmyo 가을날 한가로운 고양이 Leisurely cat on a fall day 추일한묘秋日閑猫 18th century 21. Yuksangmyodo 육상묘도 1739 Ink and oriental water color on silk146.5 x 63 cm Private collection 22. Seonyubong 선유봉 仙遊峰 1740s cm collection 23. Soakru a pavilion below Mt. Seongsan 소악루 小岳樓 tint on paper cm Gansong Art Museum 24. Pungak Mountain, Sin myo Year Album on tour with Pak Tae yu (1648–1746) 辛卯年楓岳圖帖 1711 25. Realistic Representations of Sea and Mountains (no longer extant) 1712 26. Nosong Yeongji 노송영지 老松靈芝 1755