Butterflies
Pair of Hanging Scrolls
Nam Kye-woo, Korean, 1811 - 1888
Geography:
Made in Korea, Asia
Date:
19th centuryMedium:
Ink and color on silk; mounted as a pair of hanging scrolls Dimensions:
Each: 40 inches × 12 1/2 inches (101.6 × 31.8 cm) Mount: 6 feet 2 inches × 18 inches (188 × 45.7 cm)Curatorial Department:
East Asian ArtObject Location:
2006-75-1,2Credit Line:
Purchased with the James and Agnes Kim Foundation Fund, 2006
Made in Korea, Asia
Date:
19th centuryMedium:
Ink and color on silk; mounted as a pair of hanging scrolls Dimensions:
Each: 40 inches × 12 1/2 inches (101.6 × 31.8 cm) Mount: 6 feet 2 inches × 18 inches (188 × 45.7 cm)Curatorial Department:
East Asian ArtObject Location:
Currently not on view
Accession Number:2006-75-1,2Credit Line:
Purchased with the James and Agnes Kim Foundation Fund, 2006
Label:
A high-ranking official in the Joseon court, Nam Kye-woo was also an amateur painter renowned for his depictions of butterflies, which were usually rendered only by professional or court painters due to the skills required. Nam’s extraordinary passion for butterflies earned him the nickname of Nam Na-bi, meaning Butterfly Nam. The artist himself bred butterflies, and his vast collection, both living and dried, enabled him to render the creatures with amazing detail. The realism of Nam’s butterflies demonstrates the superior skills and rare talent that distinguished him from other literati painters. Symbolizing the love and oneness of a married couple, butterflies were a popular motif for decorations in the women’s quarter of Korean homes.
A high-ranking official in the Joseon court, Nam Kye-woo was also an amateur painter renowned for his depictions of butterflies, which were usually rendered only by professional or court painters due to the skills required. Nam’s extraordinary passion for butterflies earned him the nickname of Nam Na-bi, meaning Butterfly Nam. The artist himself bred butterflies, and his vast collection, both living and dried, enabled him to render the creatures with amazing detail. The realism of Nam’s butterflies demonstrates the superior skills and rare talent that distinguished him from other literati painters. Symbolizing the love and oneness of a married couple, butterflies were a popular motif for decorations in the women’s quarter of Korean homes.
