Korean Oilpaintings inspired by Western traditions
Korea has a proud tradition of painting. The earliest historical record of painting in Korea comes from the area of Lelang, where a tradition of painting existed from sometime around the founding of the first kingdom, in 108 BCE.
Modern Korean painting traditions are results of the history of Korean art from The Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE - 668 CE), through The Unified Silla period (668-918), The Koryo Dynasty (918-1392), and The Choson dynasty (Joseon era) (1392-1910), influenced by Chinese traditions of art before 1910, and by Western traditions of art since 1910.
Today traditional styles of silk paintings have gradually become overshadowed by Western styles of oilpaintings, which now have become prevalent.
Samples of modern Western-style Korean landscape oilpaintings:
Landscape paintings from the realistic landscape school (1392-1910) was usually produced by professional Korean painters at the request of noble families. Painting landscapes based on actual scenes became more popular during the mid-Chosun period. During this time, many painters traveled the countryside in search of beautiful scenery to paint. The Korean landscape oilpaintings of today are predecessors from the tradition of landscape painting as well as from Western influence after 1910, when oilpaintings was introduced to the Korean painting tradition. Some modern artists also take a deep interest in subject matters that conveyed the innate unity between man and nature.
In Korea today, both traditional and Western-style painting are taught and pursued, producing one of the most versatile communities of fine arts in the world.