Friday, March 29, 2024
ART

Portraits of Gisaeng Entertainers

While searching for portraits of King Sukjong and other Kings of the Joseon period, I discovered that not so many paintings have survived over the years.

Most portraits were of royalty and yangban noblemen. And there weren’t many portraits of women done at all. But the mysterious painter Shin Yun-bok (1758 – ?) often depicted women in his work and ordinary Joseon life – including gisaengs.

Although Shin Yun-bok was one of the most famous painters of the Joseon period, he couldn’t be a court painter. There are various theories as to why this was the case.

Some sources (Joongang Daily) say it was because his father worked in the dohwaseo ( the Art Department of the Royal Court) and fathers and sons weren’t allowed to work there at the same time.

According to Wiki , he got thrown out of the court for painting erotic pictures. (That’s the theory followed in the storyline of the drama Painter of the Wind) 

In this famous painting portrait of a Beauty, the gisaeng entertainer plays with the norigae accessory as though she is about to undress. (read more about norigae here)

He certainly got into trouble for his style of painting in the strict Confucian society. He painted ordinary life and he often painted women – even though this was unusual in Confucian society.

Apparently only about 100 of his paintings still survive. The 2008 SBS drama The Painter of the Wind was based on a novel about his fictionalised life as not much is known about his real life. Interestingly in the novel and in the drama, the painter is depicted as a woman.

In this painting we can see a group of ladies bathing on Dano Day (a festival to celebrate the end of the sowing season in the 5th month of the Lunar calendar.)“Scenery on Dano day” (단오풍정 端午風情) by Shin Yun-bok. Picture source: Wiki

Some sources suggest that although the ladies in the painting are well-dressed, it’s unlikely that they are yangban (upper class) ladies. That’s because yangban ladies would not be able to casually undress like this outdoors! (Notice the two novice monks sneaking a look, top left!)

So the only ladies that could dress well and be relaxed in this way were gisaengs. But I think the ladies are very sensitively portrayed in the painting. And I love the splash of red made by the skirt of the lady on the swing – red was worn for good luck. (read more about the painting Scenery on Dano Day here)

More posts on Joseon art 

What are some Great Korean Portraits?

Are there any original portraits of King Sukjong or other kings?

What can we learn about Joseon society through the paintings of Shin Yun Bok?

‘What is the meaning behind the painting ‘Scenery on Dano Day‘ by Sin Yun Bok?

What Kind of Perfume Accessories did Joseon ladies carry?

What are some symbolic meanings in Minhwa Korean Folk Art?

‘Diamond Mountain’ a painting of the most famous mountain in Korea by Jeong Seon

7 thoughts on “Portraits of Gisaeng Entertainers

  • It’s very interesting to read this. Thank you

    Reply
  • Nice to find your blog. I think we have similar taste of korean drama.
    My first attached drama was all about eve, and the latest was new tale of gisaeng.
    I’m waiting a new drama with similar quality of gisaeng.
    How’s about scent of a woman by kim sun ah ?

    Reply
  • Thanks! Yes, All about Eve was one of the first dramas I watched and I still love it. I’m also wondering what to watch after I finish New Tales of Gisaeng.
    I haven’t seen Scent of a Woman, but I liked Kim Sun-ah in My Name is Kim Sam-soon. So I’ll have to check this drama out!
    Choi Ji Woo is in a new drama starting soon, Can’t Live with Losing, with Yoon Sang Hyun (he was in Secret Garden) so I’m thinking about this one..

    Reply
  • Hello everybody!

    I need this book 🙂

    Where I can buy it? But I am hungarian because of I don’t know in my land buy it :O

    Reply
  • the korean historical dramas that i’ve seen are usually about royalty (even if the royals grew up without knowing their status), women who marry royals or gisaengs. Very few leading roles for ordinary people. That’s what makes Sungkyunkwan Scandal special- the leads are child of merchant, children on ministers and child of dead scholar who grow up poor, and Jewel in the Place – palace maids and other workers. that’s not a complaint, just saying

    Reply
  • Wonderful background on some of these drama’s.
    The paintings are stunningly beautiful.I loved Painter of the wind.Very artfully done.
    I started watching KDrama’s last November and have not watched tv since!
    So much rich history! So much culture ,but also excellent acting, by very smart people!

    Reply

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