Butterflies and Peonies
Attributed to Nam Gye-u Korean
Not on view
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.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
