This study investigates both external and internal correlation between photos and paintings by analyzing them from various perspectives. It took a large amount of time for photos to be popularized in Korea; early photos failed to be positively receive...
This study investigates both external and internal correlation between photos and paintings by analyzing them from various perspectives. It took a large amount of time for photos to be popularized in Korea; early photos failed to be positively received by Koreans, and photo studios were even attacked, though occasionally. Portrait photos only began to attract people's attention when Danbalryeong, the order for the cutting of topknots, was implemented in 1895.
Between the late 19th century and early 20th century, photos made their own development by adopting numerous elements of portraits. At the same time, portrait painters also depended on photos to present portraits with the new style that was different from traditional portraits.
The influences of photos on paintings after the early 20th century are relatively clear. The way of expressing facial shades, the posture of figures, and the realistic background frequently found in portrait photos were all passed down to modern portraits. Art works submitted to the Joseon Art Exhibition also shows the subject, composition, and expression similar to those of early photos. Likewise, a large number of landscape paintings were drawn as the way the camera captures the world, using realistic subject matters and adopting the linear perspective. Such features were rarely found in previous landscapes.
Early photos were also heavily influenced by traditional paintings. For example, most subjects in portrait photos put their hands together in order not to make them noticeable and hold a precious fan awarded by the king to demonstrate their noble status. In addition, portrait photos do not have any specific background to emphasize human figures. As for landscape photos, small-size figures located in grand sceneries evidence the influence of landscape paintings. The composition with near, middle and distant views also shows the fact that photographers were highly inspired by the Shanghai School.
Furthermore, this research examines how portrait photos were affected by new visual images introduced in the Enlightenment Period of the late 19th century. Considering that Korean photographers in early times were mostly educated in Japan, this study conducts a comparative analysis on Korean and Japanese photos. The results identify that the image of Emperor Gojong is considerably similar to that of the Japanese Emperor, and that other portrait photos were increasingly influenced by Japanese photos in terms of the subject posture and background. Such features of portrait photos are deemed to be originated from western paintings previously adopted by Japan. In other words, postures or backgrounds frequently found in Korean portrait photos in the Enlightenment Period were already presented in western portraits from the 16th to 19th centuries. Since many western portraits were introduced to China and Japan earlier than to Joseon, these postures seemed to be established for portrait photos already by the end of the 19th century.
This study explores the similarity and connectivity between paintings and photos as a visual image in the Enlightenment Period. Such efforts will lay the foundation for the better understanding of the overall artistic characteristics of the period.
A comparative study between paintings and photos, not as a different art genre but as an interactive way of visual expression, will contribute to draw a clearer picture of Korea's modern visual images.