The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 19, 2024

Orchids and Rocks

Orchids and Rocks

1897–98
(Korean, 1820–1898)
Overall: 185 x 52.6 cm (72 13/16 x 20 11/16 in.); Each panel: 111.9 x 1.5 cm (44 1/16 x 9/16 in.)
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The artist of this elegant painting is the formidable politician Yi Ha-eung (1820-1898), who is known for a seclusion policy that aimed to protect Korea and its sovereignty from foreign influences.

Description

Yi Ha-eung (1820−1898), the artist of this eight-panel folding screen, was one of the most influential men in late 19th-century Korea. Acting as the regent for his son, King Gojong (1852−1919), who ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, Yi ruled Korea from 1866 to 1873. In addition to his illustrious political career, Yi was also recognized as one of the most celebrated artists who led the revival of literati art in late 19th-century Korean art. In particular, he was recognized as the master of orchids, one of the “Four Gentlemen” (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo) themes.

Solely relying on monochrome ink, Yi depicted the curvilinear silhouettes of cymbidium orchid leaves dramatically hanging down from cliffs. Growing in wilderness and redolent with fragrance, orchids were often associated with the perseverance of principled gentlemen, and thus became one of the most popular subjects of scholar-artists' paintings.On the upper right corner of the far left panel, Yi wrote a short inscription stating that he painted the work at the age of 80.
  • ?-2006
    (Jin Gallery, Busan, South Korea)
    2006
    (Seoul Auction, Seoul, South Korea)
    2006-15
    (Kang Collection, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2015-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Kim, Jeong-suk. "Formative Stages of Ink Orchid Paintings by Yi Ha-eung [石坡 李昰應 墨蘭畵風의 형성]." Misulsahak yeongu (2002): 233-266. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Kim, Jeong-suk. " Yi Ha-eung’s Art [흥선 대원군 이하응 의 예술 세계].” Seoul: Iljisa, 2004.
    Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2014.
    Cleveland Museum of Art. Museum Masters: 2016-17 Companion Guide. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2016. Mentioned and reproduced: pp. 86-–87
    Beyond Folding Screens [조선, 병풍의 나라]. Seoul: Amorepacific Museum of Art, 2018.
    Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, and 국외소재문화재재단. The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Edited by An Min-hŭi. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 220-221, no. 123
  • Korean Gallery 236 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 13-July 10, 2017).
    Korean Screen Reciprocal Loan. The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI (organizer) (March 1-September 1, 2021).
  • {{cite web|title=Orchids and Rocks|url=false|author=Yi Ha-eung|year=1897–98|access-date=19 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2015.138