Butterflies and Peonies
Famous for his elegant paintings of butterflies, the literati artist Nam Gye-u earned the nickname “Nam Butterfly.” This scroll, though lacking the artist’s signature or seal, closely reflects his style. It was likely originally one panel of a multipanel screen, with each scene depicting butterflies fluttering amid a different flowering plant. Here, the subtly hued yet luscious peonies provide an ideal foil for butterflies of varying color and texture. Oversized relative to the peony blossoms, the butterflies command the viewer’s attention, as intended by the artist. In addition to being a talented painter, Nam was also well versed in poetry and literary criticism, the attributes of the ideal Joseon-period Confucian scholar.
Artwork Details
- 전 일호 남계우 나비와 모란 조선
- 傳 一濠 南啓宇 蝴蝶圖 朝鮮
- Title: Butterflies and Peonies
- Artist: Attributed to Nam Gye-u (Korean, 1811–1890) (artist name: Ilho)
- Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
- Date: mid- to late19th century
- Culture: Korea
- Medium: Ink and color on silk
- Dimensions: 36 1/4 x 12 3/16 in. (92.1 x 31 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, 1977
- Object Number: 1977.448
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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