申緯의 墨竹畵에 대하여

Abstract

This paper focused on the bamboo paintings by Jaha(紫霞) Shin Wi(申緯) who was one of the most renowned shishuhua sanjue(a person talented in poetry, calligraphy, and painting) in the late Joseon dynasty. This paper first examined the origins of Shin Wi’s bamboo paintings. Shin Wi learned how to paint bamboos from Kang Se-hwang(姜世晃). His view on bamboo paintings, therefore, succeeded Kang Se-hwang’s realistic view on painting. Shin Wi and Kang Se-hwang’s realistic view on art was also linked to Yi Ik(李瀷). Shin Wi’s views were also based on Su Shi’s theory on literati painting. The literati during the period were all well acquainted with the theories on literati painting proposed by Su Shi and Wen Tong and Shin Wi explored such theories in depth through his works. Aside from the earlier works he painted at the ages of 15 and 26, the majority of Shin Wi’s bamboo paintings were painted later in his life when he was in his 60s and thereafter. In 1812, at the age of 44, Shin Wi went to Beijing as a member of the envoy to the Qing dynasty. During his visit, he met and befriended Weng Fanggang(翁方綱) and many of his fellow Qing literati. Shin Wi’s bamboo paintings, however, do not display particular influences from his visit to China. In fact, Shin Wi’s bamboo paintings were introduced and gathered fame in China. Shin Wi was revered as the three major bamboo painters in Joseon along with Taneun(灘隱) Lee Jeong(李禎) and Soowoon(岫雲) Yoo Deok-jang(柳德章). Unlike Lee Jeong, who mostly painted bamboo trees in the wind(風竹) and bamboo trees in the snow(雪竹), and Yoo Deok-jang, who usually painted bamboo trees in the snow(雪竹) and entire bamboo trees(筒竹), Shin Wi’s usual subjects were bamboo trees in the rain(雨竹) and bamboo trees in the fog(霧竹). Whereas Lee Jeong and Yoo Deok-jang mostly portrayed the honor of the scholar or the hermit through their bamboo paintings and did not add any poems, Shin Wi’s bamboo paintings were more lyrical and were accompanied by flourishing poems. As a great artist with an international perspective, Shin Wi was aware of the contemporary trends in Beijing and also pointed out trends which he considered erroneous.