Arcadópolis
Alms-Bowl Pond in the Diamond Mountains
Kim Hong-do (Danwon), c. 1788
What you see
A round pool sits at the center of an enclosed valley. Water enters through a small waterfall on the right and spills over the rim below. Stepped cliffs rise on the right; on the left, a gentle slope is covered with slender trees, some already in autumn leaf. Behind, tall peaks dissolve into mist.
The ink is light, mixed with ochres, browns and a bluish grey in the water. The rocks are built from angular strokes that mark their layers. Seek out the two characters written high in the sky and the two red seals on the left edge.
About Kim Hong-do (Danwon)
Kim Hong-do, known by his art name Danwon, grew up in Ansan and from the age of seven studied with the master Kang Se-hwang, who later recommended him to the royal painting bureau of the Joseon dynasty. He was a court painter under Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo, but he is remembered above all for his scenes of the daily life of farmers, craftsmen and ordinary people. He is perhaps the best-known painter in Korean art history; in 1788 King Jeongjo sent him to paint the Geumgang (Diamond) Mountains.
More by Kim Hong-do (Danwon)
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