General View of Inner Geumgang

Sin Hak-gwon (artist name: Doam) Korean

Not on view

Korean art has a rich tradition of portraying real locations in addition to utopian landscapes. Following the destructive Japanese and Manchu invasions of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, respectively, there arose a renewed awareness of Korea’s place in East Asia and the peninsula’s natural terrain and historical sites. This panoramic view of Geumgangsan, also known as the Diamond Mountains, unfurls from right to left, showcasing rocky peaks, meandering streams, rolling hills, and Buddhist temples. Notably, the painting identifies forty-six renowned sites by name. Sin Hak-gwon intentionally mirrors the style of Jeong Seon (1676–1759), a celebrated Geumgang artist he deeply admired. However, Sin’s distinctive trademark lies in the double outlines of the spindly peaks that impart a slightly ethereal quality. Artists unable to travel to Geumgang used compositions like this one to satisfy a longing for the revered mountains.

General View of Inner Geumgang, Sin Hak-gwon (artist name: Doam) (Korean, 1785–1866), Six sheets of paper mounted as a single panel; ink and light color on paper, Korea

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.