Album of Verses about Plum Blossoms
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Object Label
This book of poetry, elegantly written in Chinese characters, celebrates the flowers of the plum tree, the first blooms to appear in very early spring and a symbol of fortitude, renewal, and hope. The author of the verses, who is also the calligrapher of the album, is best known by his creative name, Toegye. He is considered the father of Korean Neo-Confucianism, a philosophical movement that would inform every aspect of political, educational, religious, and literary life for four hundred years. His contributions are so fundamental to Korean history that he appears on the 1,000-won note, the equivalent of the U.S. one-dollar bill.
Caption
Yi Hwang (Toegye) (Korean, 1501–1570). Album of Verses about Plum Blossoms, 16th century. Album, ink on paper, each page, image: 13 3/4 × 9 3/4 in. (35 × 24.7 cm) each page, including margins: 16 3/4 × 10 5/8 in. (42.5 × 27.0 cm) Overall, unfolded: 16 3/4 × 201 15/16 in. (42.5 × 513 cm) Overall, folded in case: 16 15/16 × 10 7/8 × 1 3/4 in. (43 × 27.7 × 4.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Carroll Family Collection, 2020.18.10. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
Album of Verses about Plum Blossoms
Date
16th century
Dynasty
Joseon dynasty
Geography
Place made: Korea
Medium
Album, ink on paper
Classification
Dimensions
each page, image: 13 3/4 × 9 3/4 in. (35 × 24.7 cm) each page, including margins: 16 3/4 × 10 5/8 in. (42.5 × 27.0 cm) Overall, unfolded: 16 3/4 × 201 15/16 in. (42.5 × 513 cm) Overall, folded in case: 16 15/16 × 10 7/8 × 1 3/4 in. (43 × 27.7 × 4.5 cm)
Markings
Calligrapher's seal on first page.
Credit Line
Gift of the Carroll Family Collection
Accession Number
2020.18.10
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