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Geese and Reeds

Chang Seung-ob

Asian Art

MEDIUM Ink and light color on satin
  • Place Made: Korea
  • DATES late 19th century
    DYNASTY Joseon Dynasty
    DIMENSIONS Overall: 79 x 18 3/4 in. (200.7 x 47.6 cm) Image: 51 x 13 1/2 in. (129.5 x 34.3 cm) With roller: 80 x 19 3/4 in. (203.2 x 50.2 cm)  (show scale)
    SIGNATURE artist's seal: Chang Seung-ob
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1998.181
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Leighton R. Longhi and Rosemarie Longhi
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION [From "Korean Art Collection in the Brooklyn Museum" catalogue]: The subject of wild geese near water was favored in painting for its linguistic pun because its pronunciation (noan) is the same as that for "peaceful old age." The composition of the painting, and details such as the two large-headed wild geese descending toward the reeds is very similar to the "Wild Geese" from Jang Seung-eop's screen of birds and animals in the National Museum of Korea. There is an intaglio seal of the artist on the lower right corner of the painting. [From Accession Card]: Hanging scroll, depicting twoo geese, reeds and yellow chrysanthemum in early Autumn. Ink and washes of color were used. Mounted on light blue satin brocade mounting, with wood roller ends. The artist's seal on the right lower corner compares to a painting by the same artist, located in the Ho-am Museum of Art, Korea. (The Beauty of Korean Art, vol. 18, Chung'ang Daily Newspaper, Seoul, 1985, cat. 137). Since he never learned how to write Chinese characters, inscriptions on his paintings are always done by others, and often times, his paintings do not contain any inscriptions or signatures. The artist, Chang Sung Ub, is one of the most important painters in the late Joseon dynasty, whose work shows transition between the traditional and the modern paintings of Korea. He was good at birds and flowers and landscapes, and the theme shown in this painting is considered his specialty. Most of his paintings were executed on paper, and so the satin support of the painting is an unusual and rich format. Wooden box with inscription, written in black ink in Chinese characters, "painted by Chang Sung Ub, Geese and Reeds".
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Chang Seung-ob (Korean, 1843–1897). Geese and Reeds, late 19th century. Ink and light color on satin, Overall: 79 x 18 3/4 in. (200.7 x 47.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Leighton R. Longhi and Rosemarie Longhi, 1998.181 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.181_transp4538.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1998.181_transp4538.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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