Arcadópolis
The Village School (Seodang)
What you see
The teacher, bearded and wearing a tall black hat, sits at upper right behind a low desk with a book stand. In front of him, a boy covers his face with his hand. The other pupils are arranged in two groups that form an arc: three on the left, bent over their open books, and four in a row on the right. Below, another boy in green is seen from behind.
The color is very light: soft greys and a little green and blue in the clothes on pale paper. The lines are quick, yet every gesture reads clearly. Keep an eye out for the thin switch lying on the floor beside the desk and the teacher’s downcast eyes.
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)
The Arcadópolis Museum has 443 public-domain works in 40 rooms, free to explore in 3D in your browser.