Ubon Issues Commemorative Stamp for Late Joseon Dynasty's 'Hwahoedo Folding Screen' Artwork

The late Joseon period artwork "Hwahaedo Folding Screen" will be issued as a commemorative stamp.

The Korea Post announced on the 26th that it will issue a commemorative stamp featuring "Hwahaedo Folding Screen," a representative work by the late Joseon scholar-painter Shin Myeong-yeon (申命衍, 1809?1886), on the 7th of next month.

Commemorative stamp image of 'Flower Arrangement as Folding Screen'. Provided by Korea Post.

The commemorative stamps will be issued in a set of 10, depicting flowers blooming from early spring to autumn. Each panel features specific flowers.

The first panel includes plum blossoms and camellias; the second panel, daffodils and nandina; the third panel, purple wisteria; the fourth panel, white magnolia; the fifth panel, poppies and red magnolia; the sixth panel, peonies; the seventh panel, hydrangeas; the eighth panel, lotus flowers; the ninth panel, yellow daylilies; and the tenth panel, chrysanthemums.

In the margins of the original folding screen painting, classical poetry related to each flower and excerpts from "Guangjun Fangbao," an encyclopedia from the Qing Dynasty, are inscribed in haeseoche (a traditional Korean calligraphy style).

Shin Myeong-yeon learned poetry, calligraphy, and painting from his father Shin Wi (申緯). After passing the military examination at age 17, he held various official positions while continuing his artistic activities.

He especially enjoyed painting floral paintings, bird-and-flower paintings, landscapes, the Four Gracious Plants, and portraits. His artistic sensibility was highly regarded among the scholar-officials of his time.

The commemorative stamps can be purchased at nearby main post offices or through the online post office.