▲ 'Imperial Family of the Korean Empire' by Kwon Oh-chang
An exhibition featuring costume portraiture, which depicts historical figures based on rigorous research into traditional attire, is set to open in Daegu.
The Daegu National Museum announced on July 6 that it will host a special exhibition titled "Painting Our Clothes: Costume Portraiture Donated by Artist Kwon Oh-chang" starting today, July 7, through September 27.
Costume portraiture refers to portraits that depict figures wearing traditional clothing based on historical verification.
A key characteristic of this genre is that it captures not only the facial features of the subject but also the form, color, and patterns of the clothing from that era.
These works are considered valuable resources for studying both the history of costume and the history of painting, as they add color to figures previously known only through black-and-white photographs and reconstruct the attire of individuals using scattered historical records.
The exhibition showcases a total of 137 items, including 80 costume portraits donated by artist Kwon Oh-chang to the Daegu National Museum last year, as well as National Folklore Cultural Heritage items such as the "Girin Hyungbae (Rank Badge with Girin) of Heungseon Daewongun" and the "Dangui (Jacket) of Princess Cheongyeon."
Artist Kwon has dedicated himself to bringing historical figures and traditional costumes to life on canvas through meticulous research.
Over the past half-century, he has focused on creating standard government-designated portraits and figure paintings. Among the approximately 100 standard government portraits, he produced 17, including those of Seol Chong, Kim Bu-sik, Yi Ji-ham, and Danjong.
In June of last year, he donated 168 costume portrait works across 155 categories to the Daegu National Museum.
Standard government portraits are those designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to prevent the proliferation of inconsistent portraits of historical figures.
The 2021 work "Danjong" (a high-quality reproduction) depicts the 6th king of the Joseon Dynasty, Danjong, at around the age of 15, when he had stepped down as King Emeritus before being demoted to the title of Prince Nosan.
He is shown wearing an Ikseongwan (official headgear) and a red Gonryongpo (royal robe), with an Okdae (jade belt) around his waist.
Royal portraits are divided into dosa, which are painted by observing the living king, and chusa, which are produced based on the memories of those who knew the subject when no portraits from their lifetime exist. As there were no portraits of Danjong from his lifetime, this work was created using the chusa method.
For his facial features, the artist referenced the facial contours of the portrait of King Taejo and the preliminary sketches of the portrait of King Sejo.
While there have been several portraits of Danjong in the past, this work is the first to be designated as a standard government portrait.
The 1997 work "Gojong" features the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire, Gojong.
It depicts him wearing a yellow Gonryongpo following his ascension to the throne as Emperor of the Korean Empire in 1897.
The Hwangryongpo (yellow royal robe) features wide sleeves and a red straight-collar lining added to the inner neck area.
The 1995 work "Imperial Family of the Korean Empire" centers on Emperor Sunjong, dressed in the Tongcheongwan (imperial headgear) and Gangsapo (imperial robe), surrounded by his family.
The painting includes Princess Deokhye in a Dangui and Daeran skirt, the Crown Princess of Prince Yeong in a nine-tier Jeogui (ceremonial robe), Empress Sunjeong in a 12-tier Jeogui, and Prince Yeong in a red Gonryongpo.
On the far right, an attendant in court dress is holding Prince Yi Jin.
The Jeogui is the highest ceremonial attire for royal women, and the number of pheasant patterns indicates the wearer's rank.
The hierarchy was distinguished by 12 rows for the Empress and 9 rows for the Crown Princess.
The exhibition is not limited to royal portraits.
The 2021 work "Baekjinbokdo" is a large folding screen that compiles costume portraits of children into a single composition.
It depicts various children gathering around a child dressed in royal attire.
A total of 69 children appear, each with different clothing, poses, and gazes.
The work was named "Baekjinbokdo," meaning a painting containing a variety of children's costumes in one scene.
In addition, visitors can explore Joseon royal costumes, Korean Empire imperial attire, and children's clothing through various costume portraits on display.
Kim Hye-won, Director of the Daegu National Museum, stated, "This exhibition was made possible through the meaningful donation of artist Kwon Oh-chang," adding, "I hope this will be an opportunity to rediscover the world of our traditional clothing through these costume portraits, which are invaluable resources for the study of Korean costume history."
(Photo: Courtesy of Daegu National Museum, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.