An Kyŏn

An Kyŏn
Hangul
안견
Hanja
安堅
RRAn Gyeon
MRAn Kyŏn
Art name
Hangul
현동자, 주경
Hanja
玄洞子, 朱耕
RRHyeondongja, Jugyeong
MRHyŏndongja, Chugyŏng
Courtesy name
Hangul
가도, 득수
Hanja
可度, 得守
RRGado, Deuksu
MRKado, Tŭksu

An Kyŏn (Korean: 안견; Hanja: 安堅; fl. 15th century) was a Korean painter of the early Joseon period. He was born in Jigok, Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. He entered royal service as a member of the Dohwaseo, the official painters of the Joseon court. In 1447, he drew Mongyu dowondo, a landscape painting for Grand Prince Anpyeong. Considered the oldest landscape painting by a Korean artist, the painting is currently stored at Tenri University.

His art name was Hyŏndongja (현동자; 玄洞子) and his courtesy name was Kado (가도; 可度).

Legacy

An Gyeon and his followers led the most influential school of landscape painting during the early Joseon dynasty. Their works were characterized by an asymmetrical three-part composition, carefully arranged objects within open spaces, and a striking contrast between black and white. This style of landscape painting later influenced painters of the Muromachi period in Japan, notably Tenshō Shūbun.

Mongyu dowondo (Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land)


초춘 early spring
만춘 late spring
초하 early summer
만하 late summer
초추 early autumn
만추 late autumn
초동 early winter
만동 late winter
사시팔경도 - Eight views of the Four Seasons

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Top Korean cultural heritages go on display in centennial of nat'l museum". The Korea Herald. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. ↑ Britannica Kokusai Dai-Hyakkajiten article "An Kyŏn" (An Ken in Japanese). Shogakukan.
  3. ↑ Haijima, Agnese (2022). "Cross Cultural Relationship in East Asia with Focus on the Motif of "Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang" and Its Legacy Today". Reliģiski-filozofiski raksti. University of Latvia. p. 90.
  4. ↑ Seo, Yoon-jung (2022). "Joseon Paintings in Japan: Cultural Biography of Objects" (PDF). The Review of Korean Studies. 25: 144–191.
  5. ↑ Ahn, Hwi-joon; Lee, Soyoung (2004-10-01). "Mountain and Water: Korean Landscape Painting, 1400–1800". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2026-07-30.