Books and Scholars’ Accoutrements

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Books and Scholars’ Accoutrements as painting (Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) · late 1800s).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

A convincing hypothesis that connects the Korean chaekgado tradition with the Renaissance tradition of illusionistic studiolo through the technique of trompe-l'œil and Chinese Qing period treasured cabinet paintings was first made in Park Shim-eun's thesis (2002).

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this painting as ten-panel folding screen; ink and color on silk and credits Yi Taek-gyun (Korean, 1808–after 1883).

The museum's collection notes: First produced around the second half of the eighteenth century, chaekgado (literally, “pictures of bookshelves”) flourished throughout the 1800s as a royal emblem. And soon this pictorial genre became a popular furnishing item for aristocrats' elegant studies. The third panel from the right bears a hidden seal that reveals the artist: Yi Taek-gyun, a prominent court artist active in the late 1800s.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtBooks and Scholars’ Accoutrements

Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.