Painting of a Lofty Scholar Contemplating Water

Kang Hui-an

Joseon Dynasty

Paper

National Museum of Korea

A framed artwork features a repeating geometric pattern in gold and brown. A vertical strip of lighter material is on the left side, with a label at the bottom. A framed artwork features a repeating geometric pattern in gold and brown. A vertical strip of lighter material is on the left side, with a label at the bottom. Today, Kang Hui-an (姜希顔) is remembered as one of the most representative literati painters of the early Joseon Dynasty, but he also excelled at poetry and calligraphy. Actually, painting was considered to be a somewhat base and degrading pastime for a proper literati scholar during that time, and Kang himself perceived his talent for painting according to social norms. Historical accounts show that he felt humiliated by the idea of his paintings being handed down to future g