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Bamboo in the Wind

early 17th century
Not on view
A great-great-grandson of King Sejong (r. 1418–50), whose reign saw a cultural flowering and the invention of hangeul (the Korean alphabet), the prominent literati artist Yi Jeong gained renown for his poetry, calligraphy, and ink paintings. His calligraphic brushwork showcases intricate techniques, seen here in the nuanced shifts and precise strokes that form the leaves’ tapered tips and bent edges. The layered bamboo in skillfully contrasted dark and light ink tones creates a sense of spatial depth. Representing Confucian and Daoist values of integrity and nobility, bamboo was cherished by East Asian scholar-painters for centuries. Bending but not breaking in the wind, bamboo embodies resilience and fortitude, traits referenced in the inscription:

Aged bamboo has grown unevenly
Branches lift together in the breeze,
Desolate and sparse, seeking to stir people,
Lingering response found nowhere else.
—Translation by Tim Zhang

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 탄은 이정 대나무 조선
  • 灘隱 李霆 墨竹圖 朝鮮
  • Title: Bamboo in the Wind
  • Artist: Yi Jeong (artist name: Taneun) (Korean, 1541–1626)
  • Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: Korea
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on silk with gold on colophon
  • Dimensions: Image: 45 1/2 x 21 in. (115.6 x 53.3 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 87 13/16 × 26 5/16 in. (223 × 66.8 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 87 13/16 × 28 3/4 in. (223 × 73 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.300.299
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Yi Jeong (artist name: Taneun) - Bamboo in the Wind - Korea - Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art