Byeon Sangbyeok was an 18th century
Korean painter of the
Miryang
Miryang (perhaps pronounced as Milbeol using Idu script), formerly also spelled as 推火郡 (probably pronounced as Milbeol or Miribeol using Idu script), Milbeol (密伐) and Milseong (密城), is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Korea ...
Byeon clan during the late period of the
Korean
Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). Byeon is famous for his precise depictions of animals and people in detailed brushwork.
Biography
His courtesy name (''ja'') is Wanbo and pen name (''ho'') is Hwajae. His birth and death dates are unknown, but was active in the mid 18th century during
King Sukjong's (r. 1674–1720) and
King Yeongjo's reign (r. 1724–1776). Byeon was praised for his excellent depictions of animals and people. He served as a royal painter of
Dohwaseo, the office of painting and then as a ''
hyeongam'', a magistrate of a small province. According to the book titled ''Jinhui sokgo'' (震彙續攷), Byeon Sangbyeok was especially excellent at depicting cats and chicken, so he gained nicknames like Byeon Goyang (trans. Byeon Cat) and Byeon Dak (Byeon Rooster). In addition, the book says that Byeon was famous for drawing portraits too, so he was also referred as ''Guksu'' (國手, a first class artisan)
of the time, and his portrait works are over 100 pieces. Though, one of his extant portraits, the portrait of
Yun Geup Yun may refer to:
*Yǔn, Chinese name of Xionites, a nomadic tribe of Central Asia
*Yun (Chinese name) (云/雲), a Chinese family name
*Yun (ancient surname), an ancient Chinese surname
*Yeon, or Yun, Korean (or Dutch given name) family name
*Yun ...
, an officer, does not show his excellent skills. He participated in drawing the portraits of King Yeongjo in 1763 and 1773.
Works
Byeon's representative works include ''"
Myojakdo
''Myojakdo'' (literally, "Painting of Cats and Sparrows") is a Korean painting depicting two cats and sparrows on an old tree, drawn by Byeon Sang-byeok during the late 17th century, in the period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). It is r ...
"'' (Painting of Cats and Sparrows) and ''"
Gyejado"'' (Painting of a Chicken and Chicks). Myojakdo housed in the
National Museum of Korea captures a lively scene of two cats and alarmed sparrows around a tree in detailed brushwork. The depiction of a group of chirping sparrows on twigs are illustrated precisely with very detailed brushstrokes. It is based on his deep affections toward animals and close observations in real life.
Gallery
File:Korean art-Byeon Sangbyeok-Myojakdo-Painting of Cats and Sparrows-01.jpg, ''Myojakdo
''Myojakdo'' (literally, "Painting of Cats and Sparrows") is a Korean painting depicting two cats and sparrows on an old tree, drawn by Byeon Sang-byeok during the late 17th century, in the period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). It is r ...
'' ("Painting of Cats and Sparrows")
File:Korean art-Byeon Sangbyeok-Gukjeong chumyo-Autumn cat in a garden with chrysanthemum-01.jpg, ''Gukjeong chumyo
''Gukjeong chumyo'' is an 18th-century Korean painting depicting a crouching cat under a wild chrysanthemum on an autumn day. It was drawn by Byeon Sang-byeok, who usually painted animals during the late period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392 ...
'' ("Autumn cat in a garden with chrysanthemum")
File:Byeon Sangbyeok-dog.jpg, ''Gyeondo'' (painting of a dog)
See also
*
Korean painting
*
List of Korean painters
*
Korean art
*
Korean culture
The traditional culture of Korea is the shared cultural and historical heritage of Korea and southern Manchuria before the division of Korea in 1945. Manchuria refers to the ancient geographical and historical region in Northeast Asia, includ ...
References
Citation
Sources
*An, Hwi-jun (1980), ''"Han'guk hoehwasa"'' (History of Korean painting), Ilchisa.
External links
Brief biography of Byeon SangbyeokByeon Sangbyeok Cats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byeon, Sangbyeok
18th-century Korean painters