Catalog (46)

Ode to Autumn, fan painting by one of Korea's most famous contemporary artists who worked in the traditional style, Lee Nam Ho aka Geum Chu (1908-2001), beautifully framed and newly silk mounted. The sparrow sings to the beautiful flower of autumn, the camellia, an ancient symbol of faithfulness in Korea. The bamboo on the right is a symbol of resilience and integrity. When faced with a strong wind, the bamboo bends but does not break, just as the person with determination and principle, even when pressed down, doesn't give up and resumes their upright posture. The rock is a symbol of eternity, so when it is with the bamboo and camellia, it is a poetic representation of eternal adherence to principle and undying faithfulness. Ink and colors on paper. Frame: 34.75 x 19 inches (88.25 x 48.25 cm), Painting: 22.5 x 11.5 inches (57 x 29 cm).

Assembled Spirits by Ahn Moon Hoon. A very large painting, Frame: 75.75 x 60.5 inches, 192.5 x 154.5 cm; Painting: 64.5 x 49 inches, 164 x 124.5 cm. Paintings by Ahn Moon Hoon sell very well at auctions in Korea. His popularity is attributed to the deeply spiritual nature of his paintings, and his textured, three-dimensional paper surfaces. This really is an exceptional example of his work, with a beautifully saturated palette and a vibrant aura. The design and colors of the large wood frame are also wonderful. The asking price here is much lower than it would be at auction in Korea, especially for such a fine and very large example.

Korean Temple Painting of Jijang (the Bodhisattva of Hell) with the Seven Stars Spirit (Chilseong), with original temple inscription from the Seongbulam Hermitage of Jinju. This painting came from the Myonbu-jon Hall of the Underworld of a large Buddhist temple. The center figure in this painting is Jijang Bosal (Sanskrit: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva), who postponed his own ascension to Heaven to relieve and rescue souls from Hell. He holds in his left hand the cintamani wish-granting pearl that lights up the darkness of Hell. The seven figures to his left and the seven figures to his right represent Chilseong, the Seven Stars Spirit of the Big Dipper. Chilseong controls people's destinies. To Jijang's left in the front row is the monk Tao-ming (Korean: Tomyong) who was once a Tang prince, and to Jijang's right in the front row is the demon king Poisonless (Korean: Mudok Kwiwang). The painting is in good condition. The frame is is partially separated from the painting. This is easy to repair, but we have not done so, as you may want to replace the frame. The frames on Korean Buddhist temple paintings are almost never original, as they were not framed originally, so it is perfectly fine to replace the frame. Colors on silk. Frame: 53.75 x 46.25 inches, 136.5 x 117.5 cm; Painting: 45.75 x 37.75 inches, 116 x 96 cm.

1971 Oil Painting by Choi Young Rim. Frame: 30 x 24 inches, 76 x 61 cm; Painting: 20 x 15 inches, 51 x 38 cm.

19th Century Hwajodo Bird and Flower Screen Painting filled with beauty and symbolism. The geese, swallows, sparrows, chickens, and yellow sparrows are all paired here to symbolize love. The peonies are a symbol of love and prosperity. The rocks in each painting are a symbol of eternity. So peonies with rocks combine to grant wishes for eternal love. The yellow sparrows have special symbolism. The word for yellow sparrows is hwangjak, which sounds like hwanjak, meaning great pleasure and profound happiness. Geese mate for life and are a symbol of marital fidelity. The rooster and hen are ancient guardian figures. The swallow is a symbol of beauty and delight. This screen would have been displayed at a wedding, and then moved to the couple's home for them to cherish all of their lives. Colors on silk. Total Dimensions: 97 x 60.5 inches, 246.5 x 153.5 cm; Each Painting: 31.75 x 11.5 inches, 81 x 29 cm.

New Life Woodblock Print on Traditional Hanji Paper by Hong Sung Dam in 1982 (29 x 20 inches, 74 x 51 cm, including margins). Hong Sung Dam is a woodblock print artist who was a leader of the minjung, the peoples' political movement that arose from the ashes of the Gwangju Massacre where the Korean government slaughtered hundreds (some witnesses say thousands) of their own citizens in the streets in response to demonstrations in Gwangju. He was arrested in 1989, and suffered brutal torture in prison. He was released in 1992 after a three-year-long campaign by Amnesty International. After the subsequent democratization of Korea, Hong was commissioned by the government in 1996 to create the large (120 feet) Minjung Mural in Gwangju. Early minjung art is much sought after, and Hong Sung Dam is one of the most revered and acclaimed minjung artists. He donated much of his early work, so opportunities to buy are very infrequent (practically non-existent, actually). So we are very pleased to offer this rare collection of woodblock prints on traditional hanji paper by Hong Sung Dam that were created before his imprisonment, hidden from authorities by his friends, and donated to Amnesty International after their successful effort to get him released from prison. Own a piece of history and a beautiful work of art from a man who grew up in poverty (on the island of Haui) and illness (severe tuberculosis as a youth) to become an inspiring artist who gave his life to his art and his people.

Shaman's Feast Woodblock Print on Traditional Hanji Paper by Hong Sung Dam in 1982 (21 x 15 inches, 53.5 x 38 cm, including margins). Hong Sung Dam is a woodblock print artist who was a leader of the minjung, the peoples' political movement that arose from the ashes of the Gwangju Massacre where the Korean government slaughtered hundreds (some witnesses say thousands) of their own citizens in the streets in response to demonstrations in Gwangju. He was arrested in 1989, and suffered brutal torture in prison. He was released in 1992 after a three-year-long campaign by Amnesty International. After the subsequent democratization of Korea, Hong was commissioned by the government in 1996 to create the large (120 feet) Minjung Mural in Gwangju. Early minjung art is much sought after, and Hong Sung Dam is one of the most revered and acclaimed minjung artists. He donated much of his early work, so opportunities to buy are very infrequent (practically non-existent, actually). So we are very pleased to offer this rare collection of woodblock prints on traditional hanji paper by Hong Sung Dam that were created before his imprisonment, hidden from authorities by his friends, and donated to Amnesty International after their successful effort to get him released from prison. Own a piece of history and a beautiful work of art from a man who grew up in poverty (on the island of Haui) and illness (severe tuberculosis as a youth) to become an inspiring artist who gave his life to his art and his people.

A Fine and Old Painting of Dokseong, Korea's Hermit Saint in a most beautiful landscape. This gorgeous painting has a phenomenal dark patina that could only have developed through years of ritual use and adds greatly to the contemplative beauty and serenity of this very special work of art. Dokseong is pictured in an inspiring remote mountain forest, a Daoist style landscape where he seeks solitude and self-cultivation. His attire is that of a Buddhist monk. He is revered by Buddhists and Shamans. Paintings of Dokseong are the most constant companions of Sansin (Mountain God) paintings in the Sansin-gak Shrine of Buddhist temples in Korea. Some temples even give Dokseong his own shrine, the Dokseong-gak. There is an old inscription at the bottom of the painting. Frame: 34.75 x 26 inches (88 x 66 cm), Painting: 29.75 x 21 inches (75.5 x 53.5 cm).

Rare Antique Korean Spirit Shrine Painting (Kam Mo Yo Je Do). Spirit House Paintings are in the collections of several major museums. This painting would have been placed in a place of reverence in the home, and on the anniversary of an ancestor's death, a slip of paper with the ancestor's name would be placed on the blank space in the open doorway of the shrine in the painting and a ritual would have been performed in front of the painting. Kammo means 'to adore with deep emotion' and Yoje means 'to respectfully address the spirits as if they were at the ceremony', and Do means 'painting'. Ink on paper. Frame: 37.5 x 27 inches, 95 x 68.5 cm; Painting: 31 x 21 inches, 79 x 53.5 cm.

Oil Painting by Park Deuk Soon (1910 - 1990), signed and dated 1949, with original frame. Park Deuk Soon studied in Tokyo with Ryohei Koizo and graduated from the Pacific Fine Arts School in 1938. He exhibited often at the National Art Exhibition and the Chosun Art Exhibition. He was also an educator and an active member of the Kukjeon, and served for a time as President of the Korean Painters Association. Frame: 23.5 x 19 inches, 59 x 48 cm; Painting: 17 x 12.25 inches, 43 x 31 cm.