1906

Rocks and Orchids

Korean, 1832 - 1914

The artist Chung Hak-kyo was one of the most representative literati painters of the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The depictions of rocks in his paintings are distorted and abstracted, emphasizing their solidity, and the artist often paired rocks with bamboo or orchids. The soft calligraphic brushstrokes Chung Hak-kyo used for the orchids on this scroll create an exciting contrast to the sharp-edged rocks. The inscription on the left side is the artist's own poem, praising his late life. It also tells us that this painting was made in the twelfth lunar month of 1906.