Scholar under Pine Tree

Ji Unyeong, artist

1852–1935

Scholar under Pine Tree, 1922

Where object was made: Korea

Material/technique: paper; ink

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 133 x 66 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 52 3/8 x 26 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Helen Foresman Spencer Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 2013.0020

Not on display

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Ji Unyeong painted during the tumultuous period of transition from the imperial Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), through the shortlived Korean Empire (1897–1910), and in the period of Japanese colonial occupation (1910–1945). In 1886, Ji orchestrated one of many failed assassination attempts of the court official Kim Okgyun (1851–1894), who, despite being an advocate of Western-based reforms and advancements in science, also sought closer ties with Japan. In 1895, imperial opposition to Japanese involvement in Korea was silenced with the assassination of Empress Myeongseong (called Queen Min, 1851–1895). For his support of the Queen, Ji was exiled and forced to live out his life as a hermit.
In this painting, Ji depicts himself as Tao Yuanming, a famous fifthcentury
Chinese poet and court official who dropped out of society in protest. The finely brushed inscription that quotes Tao’s poetry seems to envelop Ji, who pensively stares into the distance.