Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 178

Joseon Porcelain
Fine porcelains were created throughout the Joseon period, both for the upper classes and for
ancestral altars. Since this period was greatly influenced by Neo-Confucian beliefs in simplicity
and austerity, porcelain ritual vessels tended to be all white with no decoration. However, some
wine and food vessels were decorated with designs inspired by nature, such as the jar with plum
and bamboo images. By the 18 th century these vessels were considered to be the finest porcelains
of the Joseon dynasty.
Genre Paintings, Village School by Kim Hong-do
Korean genre paintings (illustrations of everyday life of the people) of the Joseon dynasty in the
eighteenth century are famous for their candid, realistic representations of Joseon society and are
considered by many as the most “Korean” of Korean art. Kim Hong-do was a leading genre
painter and landscape artist of the time and a favorite of the king. His delightful and engaging
paintings reveal his sense of humor and accurate depictions of the life of the people that invite
the viewer to take a closer look, such as the painting of a village classroom scene. The children
seem to be teasing the child who is sitting in front of the teacher. (Many images of Kim Hong-
do’s paintings are available on the Internet)
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