Hawk at Sunrise

second half 18th century–first half 19th century
Not on view
Birds of prey, like this hawk, were symbols of strength and righteousness and this is conveyed through the hawk’s fierce stare and regal pose. This painting modifies the earlier 15th-16th-century Joseon depictions of trained birds of prey tied to and perched on ornamented stands. From the early Joseon, birds of prey were associated with the Imperial Censorate, an office that required courage and keen sense of justice. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the heroic hawk is placed within an auspicious environment of buoyant waves, blue-green rocks, and red sun.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hawk at Sunrise
  • Artist: Attributed to Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來 (Korean, born 1720)
  • Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
  • Date: second half 18th century–first half 19th century
  • Culture: Korea
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 44 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (113 × 59.7 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Michael and Kathleen Linburn Gift, 2022
  • Object Number: 2022.99
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.