Choe Buk Explained

Hangul:최북
Hanja:崔北
Rr:Choe Buk
Mr:Ch'oe Puk
Hangulho:호생관, 삼기재, 거기재
Hanjaho:毫生館, 三奇齋, 居其齋
Rrho:Hosaenggwan, Samgijae, Geogijae
Mrho:Hosaenggwan, Samgijae, Kŏgijae
Hangulja:성기, 유용
Hanjaja:聖器, 有用
Rrja:Seonggi, Yuyong
Mrja:Sŏnggi, Yuyong

Choe Buk (; fl. 1712 - 1760), was a Korean painter of the late Joseon period. He used many art names including Samgijae, Hosaenggwan, Songjae, Giam, and Geogijae.

Biography

His childhood remains unknown, as well as the social status of his family. The Grove says 'floruit c. 1755 - 85'.

He was known as a skilled landscape painter, but also drew portraits, flowers and animals. Legend tells of a powerful aristocrat that forced him to draw, but Choe refused to do so and as a result had one eye pierced, leading to the loss sight in that eye.[1]

He was known to have traveled in Japan and was known to Zheng Zhilong's family; painting an image of Zheng's wife and their son Koxinga. The original returned to Korea with Choe, but a copy was kept with the family and was later emulated by Bak Jega.[2]

His living situation became increasingly difficult, so he made a living by wandering around town and selling paintings. On the spot, he drew pictures at the request of others and received money for them, but the price was not set. When a requester offered Choe a small amount of money for one of his fine works, he would become so angry that he would scream and tear up the painting.

However, to those who were willing to pay a lot of money for his low-quality works, Choe mocked them and ordered them to take them immediately, saying: “That fool doesn’t even know the value of paintings."[3]

Style and Galleries

Choe Buk engraved his name and pen name in the center of the painting. He was acquainted with Kim Hong-do, Kim Deuk-sin, Yi In-mun, but his works are dissimilar to theirs.

The Korean Copyright Commission [4] lists 20 paintings for Choe Buk, while Towooart[5] gives a short notice.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Painter Choe Buk . . May 29, 2020 . . January 7, 2021 . He was good at drawing portraits, landscapes, flowers and animals. He was so skillful in drawing landscapes that he was nicknamed “landscape painter Choe”. [...] Poor as he was, he liked drawing beautiful scenery of the country, but he never drew pictures pleasing the feudal ruling circles. .
  2. Book: Park, J.P. . 2018 . A New Middle Kingdom: Painting and Cultural Politics in Late Chosŏn Korea (1700–1850) . University of Washington Press . 296 . 978-0295743264.
  3. Web site: January 2012 . LIFE OF A JOSEON GOVERNMENT ARTIST: SOCIAL STATUS, CREATIVE DRIVE AND DRINKING HABITS . National Museum of Korea.
  4. Web site: 공유마당 > 이미지검색 . gongu.copyright.or.kr . 27 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20130703030921/http://gongu.copyright.or.kr/search/search.do?kwd=%EC%B5%9C%EB%B6%81&fGroup=02&fLicCode=&authorSeq= . 3 July 2013 . dead.
  5. http://www.towooart.com/oldart/old_korea/choibuk/choibuk.htm