id: 86399 accession number: 2015.138 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.138 updated: 2022-09-22 09:01:44.570000 Orchids and Rocks, 1897–98. Yi Ha-eung (Korean, 1820–1898). Eight-panel folding screen; ink on silk; overall: 185 x 52.6 cm (72 13/16 x 20 11/16 in.); each panel: 111.9 x 1.5 cm (44 1/16 x 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 2015.138 title: Orchids and Rocks title in original language: 난석도 (蘭石圖) series: series in original language: creation date: 1897–98 creation date earliest: 1897 creation date latest: 1898 current location: creditline: John L. Severance Fund copyright: --- culture: Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) technique: Eight-panel folding screen; ink on silk department: Korean Art collection: ASIAN - Folding screen type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Yi Ha-eung (Korean, 1820–1898) - artist --- measurements: Overall: 185 x 52.6 cm (72 13/16 x 20 11/16 in.); Each panel: 111.9 x 1.5 cm (44 1/16 x 9/16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: Translation: [I] painted for the high minister Yangwon. [I] humbly request your corrections and advice [on my painting]. [By] an eighty-year old gentleman of rocks.) translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Korean Gallery 236 Rotation opening date: 2017-01-13T05:00:00 Korean Gallery 236 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 13-July 10, 2017). title: Korean Screen Reciprocal Loan opening date: 2021-03-01T05:00:00 Korean Screen Reciprocal Loan. The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI (organizer) (March 1-September 1, 2021). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE (Jin Gallery, Busan, South Korea) date: ?-2006 footnotes: citations: (Seoul Auction, Seoul, South Korea) date: 2006 footnotes: citations: (Kang Collection, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) date: 2006-15 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 2015- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: The artist of this elegant painting is the formidable politician Yi Ha-eung (1820-1898), who is known for a seclusion policy that aimed to protect Korea and its sovereignty from foreign influences. digital description: Yi Ha-eung (1820−1898), the artist of this eight-panel folding screen, was one of the most influential men in late 19th-century Korea. Acting as the regent for his son, King Gojong (1852−1919), who ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, Yi ruled Korea from 1866 to 1873. In addition to his illustrious political career, Yi was also recognized as one of the most celebrated artists who led the revival of literati art in late 19th-century Korean art. In particular, he was recognized as the master of orchids, one of the “Four Gentlemen” (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo) themes.

Solely relying on monochrome ink, Yi depicted the curvilinear silhouettes of cymbidium orchid leaves dramatically hanging down from cliffs. Growing in wilderness and redolent with fragrance, orchids were often associated with the perseverance of principled gentlemen, and thus became one of the most popular subjects of scholar-artists' paintings.On the upper right corner of the far left panel, Yi wrote a short inscription stating that he painted the work at the age of 80. wall description: Yi Ha-eung was one of the most influential men in late 19th-century Korea. Acting as the regent for his son, King Gojong (1852−1919), who ascended the throne at age 13, Yi ruled Korea from 1866 to 1873 and remained the center of politics for the next two decades.

In addition to his illustrious political career, Yi was also one of the most celebrated artists who led the revival of literati art in Korean art of the late 1800s. In particular, Yi was recognized as the master of orchids, one of the “Four Gentlemen” themes (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo). Orchids, which often grow wild, widely spreading their strong fragrance, were often associated with the perseverance of principled gentlemen.

Solely using monochrome ink, Yi depicted the curvilinear silhouettes of cymbidium orchid leaves dramatically hanging from cliffs. On the upper right corner of the far left panel, Yi wrote a short inscription stating that he painted the work at the age of 80. This work demonstrates Yi’s mature brushwork, which harmonizes vigor and grace. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS Kim, Jeong-suk. "Formative Stages of Ink Orchid Paintings by Yi Ha-eung [石坡 李昰應 墨蘭畵風의 형성]." Misulsahak yeongu (2002): 233-266. page number: url: https://www.dbpia.co.kr/journal/articleDetail?nodeId=NODE00968294 Kim, Jeong-suk. " Yi Ha-eung’s Art [흥선 대원군 이하응 의 예술 세계].” Seoul: Iljisa, 2004. page number: url: Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2014. page number: url: Cleveland Museum of Art. Museum Masters: 2016-17 Companion Guide. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2016. page number: Mentioned and reproduced: pp. 86-–87 url: Beyond Folding Screens [조선, 병풍의 나라]. Seoul: Amorepacific Museum of Art, 2018. page number: url: --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.138/2015.138_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.138/2015.138_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.138/2015.138_full.tif