Books and Scholars' Possessions
A ten-panel chaekgado screen crowded with books, writing tools, ceramics and fruit, a distinctive still-life genre that spread from the late Joseon court to commoners. Full commentary ↓
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Books and Scholars' Possessions is a painting by an unknown maker (early 20th century) in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It measures 102.9 × 31.8 cm.
In the pictureOn each panel of the ten-panel folding screen, objects such as stacks of books, inkstones, brushes, ceramics, vases, fruit and clocks are neatly arranged on shelves. Each panel has different objects in a different arrangement, so it amounts to ten small still lifes standing side by side. The colors center on the red and blue of the book covers and the white of the ceramics.
BackgroundChaekgado (books-and-things painting) is said to have spread after King Jeongjo set up a screen painted with books behind the royal throne to show the value he placed on learning. At first it took the form of objects placed within bookcases drawn with Western perspective, but as it filtered down to ordinary people the bookcases disappeared and it changed into this form, with objects stacked freely. This screen, painted in the early 20th century, also includes new objects such as a Western-style pocket watch.
Puzzle tipBecause the picture is extremely wide, the piece grid comes out flat. The standard approach is to set up the vertical margin pieces between the panels first to build a frame of ten compartments, then fill each compartment one at a time. The stripes of the book stacks have a clear direction and make good clues.
- Culture
- Korea
- Classification
- Paintings
- Medium
- Ten-panel folding screen; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions
- 102.9 × 31.8 cm
- Credit line
- Purchase, Shelby White Gift, 2005
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
In these collections: Seollal Korean Painting Puzzles
Stories about this work
- Gyehoedo and Chaekgado: Joseon Paintings Made to Record, Not Just to Admire
Some paintings were made not to be admired but to keep something. A gyehoedo records a gathering of officials; a chaekgado is a folding screen of book still lifes.
- From Goryeo Buddhist Paintings to Joseon Screens: 18 Korean Paintings as Puzzles
From Goryeo Buddhist paintings to Joseon-era literati painting, portraits, landscapes and folding screens. A genre-by-genre tour of the 18 Korean paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, each one a puzzle.
