Gim Hongdo (김홍도, born 1745, died 1806?-1814?), also known as Kim Hong-do, most often styled Danwon (단원), was a full-time painter of the
Joseon period
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and ...
of Korea. He was together a pillar of the establishment and a key figure of the new trends of his time, the 'true view painting'. Gim Hong-do was an exceptional artist in every field of traditional painting, even if he is mostly remembered nowadays for his depictions of the everyday life of ordinary people, in a manner analogous to the
Dutch Masters.
Biography
Danwon was a member of the
Gimhae Gim clan. He grew up in present-day
Ansan, South Korea.
At the age of 7, Gim Hong-do studied under the renowned master Pyoam
Kang Se-hwang, who was then living in seclusion in Ansan. In 1766, at the age of 21, on the recommendation of Kang Sehwang,
he entered the royal service as a member (hwawon) of the Dohwaseo, the official painters of the Joseon court. In 1771, he painted the portrait of the Royal Heir (the future King Jeongjo). In 1773, he assisted
Byeon Sang-byeok when painting the Royal Portrait of King
Yeongjo
Yeongjo of Joseon (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776), personal name Yi Geum ( Korean: 이금, Hanja: 李昑), was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong, by his concubine Royal Noble Consort ...
(1694–1724–1776).
In 1776, he painted the "Nineteen Taoist Immortals", that skyrocketed his reputation as a painter. At the same time, the new instated King
Jeongjo (1752–1776–1800) commissioned him for many institutional paintings.
He died in loneliness and poverty, though the circumstances, and even the year are unknown. Sources are guessing 1806,
[ circa 1810,][Britannica. ] or after 1814.[
]
Legacy
Danwon is remembered today as one of the "Three Wons," together with Hyewon and Owon. He is also often joined to Owon and the 15th-century painter An Gyeon as one of Joseon's three greatest painters.
The city of Ansan, where he spent his youth and learned his craft, has memorialized him in many ways. The district of Danwon-gu is named after him, as is Ansan's annual "Danwon Art Festival." Many public places have been designed in imitation of his works.
Gallery
Various sources have various opinions about what could be a 'top ten' list for Gim Hong-do.[ The most important fact is how successful was Gim Hong-do in all the various types of paintings.
Towooart provides a short notice and an argumented selection of paintings.]
Image:ChongSeokJeong.jpg, ChongSeokJeong
Image:Hwangmyo.jpg, A cat and a butterfly
Hwangmyonongjeopdo
Image:Songhamaenghodo.jpg, Tiger under a pine tree
Songhamaenghodo
Image:Kim Hong-do, Songhachwisaengdo.jpg, Drunkard under a tree
Songhachwisaengdo
Image:죽하맹호도.jpg, Tiger underneath a Bamboo
Jukhamenghodo
* Official paintings
* The designated painter of the King
* "Genre paintings". Among them, the album Danwon pungsokdo provides a serie of 25 paintings. Here are only four of them:
Image:Danwon-Seodang.jpg, Teacher and pupils
Seodang (서당:書堂)
Image:Danwon-Mudong.jpg, Dancing boy
Mudong (무동:舞童)
Image:Danwon-Bbalrae.teo.jpg, Washing place
Bbalraeteo (빨래터:漂母)
Image:Danwon-Daejanggan.jpg,
* After 1800 and the death of King Jeongjo.
Fictional portrayals
Literature
The novel ''Painter of the Wind'', by Lee Jeong-myeong, is centered on Danwon and Hyewon, who is portrayed as a woman disguised as a man.
Film and television
* Portrayed by Park Shin-yang in the 2008 SBS TV series '' Painter of the Wind''.Mysterious Artist Resurfaces on Modern Culture Scene
Korea Times, 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
* Portrayed by Kim Young-ho in the 2008 film '' Portrait of a Beauty''.
* Portrayed by Kim Da-hyun in the 2011 SBS TV series '' Warrior Baek Dong-soo''.
See also
* Danwon pungsokdo cheop
* Korean painting
* List of Korean painters
References
Bibliography
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External links
Encyclopedia of Korean culture-Gim hong doArts of Korea
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Gim Hong-do
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gim, Hong-do
1745 births
19th-century deaths
18th-century Korean painters
Gimhae Kim clan
18th-century Korean poets
People from Ansan