Chaekgeori (Scholar’s Accoutrements)

Chaekgeori (Scholar’s Accoutrements) , late 1800s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)

Where object was made: Korea

Material/technique: color; ink; paper

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 73 x 177 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 28 3/4 x 69 11/16 in

Credit line: Private collection

Accession number: EL2017.011

Not on display

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Label texts

The Power and Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens

Although four-panel screens are relatively small in scale, the excellent composition and vibrant colors make this piece highly decorative and unique. The most noteworthy feature is the small child reading among books. The child sits before a table piled high with Buddhist texts much larger than he is. Here, subjects of greater importance are drawn larger than subjects of lesser importance, indicating an emphasis on learning. The child is reading the sohak (小學), a popular book on ethics for Korean children during the Joseon period.

The Power and Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens

Although four-panel screens are relatively small in scale, the
excellent composition and vibrant colors make this piece highly
decorative and unique. The most noteworthy feature is the small
child reading among books. The child sits before a table piled
high with Buddhist texts much larger than he is. Here, subjects
of greater importance are drawn larger than subjects of lesser
importance, indicating an emphasis on learning. The child is
reading the sohak (小學), a popular book on ethics for Korean
children during the Joseon period.