This study describes the system and changes of the National Drawing Office from the Era of the Three Kingdoms to modern times with regard to the history of the National Drawing Office of Korea.
It is difficult to proceed with this story without consid...
This study describes the system and changes of the National Drawing Office from the Era of the Three Kingdoms to modern times with regard to the history of the National Drawing Office of Korea.
It is difficult to proceed with this story without considering the Art Institute in drawing history because most talented painters were from the Art Institute and they also played a significant role in drawing history.
In studying drawing history, it is important to focus on the life of the artist, materials, methods, and the style of painting; yet, it is also important to study the background and system of the times when those art institutes were prevalent. Also, it is important to have an understanding of the arts of the time and to study the organization of the art institute, which changed over time and acted as nourishment for the development of the Korean art system.
The origin of the National Drawing Office is estimated from drawings and documents to be from the Era of the Three Kingdoms; however, there is a limitation in only depending on such documents because of the extreme scarcity of documents and works of art that have been handed down to today. There are "Chaejeon‘ a record of the Shilla Era, revealed by the "History Register of the Three Kingdoms and the record of the National Drawing Office of the Koryu Era through the "Koryu History Book? Since there is no existing work for the Shilla Era, we describe information based upon estimations from those documents, and we could examine the level and activities of the National Drawing Office of the Koryu Era through the remaining records and exchanges with foreign countries.
Although, the "National Art Institute of Koryu was continued into the Chosun Era, the value of the National Drawing Office could not be fully recognized by the aristocratic classes since the Chosun Era was an aristocracy-driven society. Accordingly, there was a limitation on one's rise in class, and the higher offices were filled with people from the aristocratic classes, while the art offices were taken up by functional positions.
Also, the National Art Institute remained as it was before the 10th year of King Sejo (1464), and it was a relatively high office in the fifth level of hierarchy until then. It was downgraded to the sixth level ofhierarchy when the Kyungkook Great Book was completed (1st year of King Yejong, 1469), and its name was changed to the National Drawing Office. These records enable us to assume the status of the National Drawing Office of the Chosun Era.
Furthermore, artists Kyung Choi and Kui-Saeng Ahn, who were much loved by the king, became the Byuljae, which was the highest position that an artist might be promoted to; however, this was hardly realizable in reality. Although there were such exceptional cases, the status of other artists was exceptionally low.
Entering the latter Chosun Era, there were many changes in the social, economic, and philosophical sectors, and the position and status of the National of Drawing Office, as legal codes were often amended. Also, there was established the Jabee Draeryung Drawing Office within Kyujangkak in the times of King Youngjo and King Jungjo. As a result, artists of the National Drawing Office came to have a more advanced capacity while taking twelve series of tests held in January, April, July, and October every year.
The mission of the artists of the National Drawing Office was diverse, including the preparation of documentary pictures for national events, the portrait of the king, and manufacturing maps. Among these,the preparation of the portrait of the king was the most important. A portrait was made when the king was still a prince, when he became a king, and after he died; however, only a small number of portraits are still in existence owing to numerous foreign invasions and wars.
As the latter Chosun Era made way for the modern era, the National Drawing Office was closed as Chosun was deprived of its sovereignty by Japan; however, the form of the National Drawing Office was continued through the Association of Painting established by Joong-Shik Ahn and Suk-Jin Cho, who were artists of the latter Chosun Era. Also the tradition of the National Drawing Office was continued by Edang Eun-Ho Kim, an artist who drew the portrait of King Soonjong
The Association of Painting existed only for a short period; however, most of the students who graduated from the Association became great artists, and they fostered artists as professors at art colleges. Consequently, although the system of the National Drawing Office of the Chosun Era has ceased to be, the methodology and techniques have been handed down to modern society.
The system and role of the National Drawing Office are important for younger students who learn painting at art college; however, it is not easy to understand the genuine value of the National Drawing Office since most of it was damaged owing to frequent foreign invasions and it is most important to have those documents for understanding its value.
In this paper, I articulated and researched the background and social components of the times in order to help them be estimated more precisely. Also, I summarized mutual effects between artists from the Office and other artists along with their style of paintings. Through this, I am able to offer data that enables an understanding of our current art.