First Full Public Exhibition of "Semado" at the 4th Jeonnam International Ink Biennale
The Oldest Extant Dated Horse Painting to Be Displayed
The Secretariat of the Jeonnam International Ink Biennale has announced that the original "Semado" by Gongjae Yoon Duseo, a leading ink painter of the late Joseon Dynasty, will be fully exhibited to the public for the first time in 321 years at the 4th Jeonnam International Ink Biennale.
"Semado" is the only extant horse painting with a recorded production date, making it a dated work and the earliest known example of its kind.
The inscription "Gapshin Yuwol Ilje" (甲申六月日製) in the upper left corner indicates that it was created in 1704, when Yoon Duseo was 37 years old. It is regarded as a benchmark for assessing the early skills in horse painting.
The painting, which depicts two officials resting under a tree with their horses tied nearby and a stableman bathing a horse in a river, is the largest among Yoon Duseo's surviving horse paintings.
In the upper right corner, there is a red seal inscription reading "Gongjae Jigi" (恭齋之記), while below the left official is stamped "Cheongguja" (靑丘子) and "Hyoeon" (孝彦, Yoon Duseo's courtesy name).
The depiction of rocks in the center of the lower part of the painting inherits the Jeolpa style of the mid-Joseon period, but the subject matter and brushwork are entirely different from the horse paintings of mid-period artists, instead representing a Chinese-style Semado type.
The figures are rendered with precision and detail. The three distinct groups?the officials resting by the river, the horses tied to the tree, and the stableman washing a horse in the river?are seamlessly integrated into a single composition. Despite being an early attempt at horse painting, the musculature of the horses is depicted with great accuracy, and the pronounced, pouch-like cheekbones are a hallmark of Yoon Duseo's horse paintings.
Until now, "Semado" has only been introduced in academic papers and catalogs through partial images, and even its preservation status was not specifically known. With the public unveiling of Yoon Duseo's Semado, it is expected to attract significant attention from both the academic and art communities.
Yoon Jaegap, General Director of the Jeonnam International Ink Biennale, stated, "It is connected to the historical significance of the Haenam clan of Gosan Yoon Seondo and the philosophical foundations of ink art. Through this exhibition, I hope the Ink Biennale will not only serve as a platform for displaying works, but also shed new light on the philosophy and cultural depth of ink art, establishing itself as a venue for cultural exchange among local residents, artists, and visitors from Korea and abroad."
Meanwhile, the 2025 Jeonnam International Ink Biennale will be held across six main exhibition halls: in the Haenam area (Gosan Yoon Seondo Museum and Ttangkkeut Pilgrimage Literature Hall), the Jindo area (Sojeon Museum of Art and Namdo Traditional Art Museum), and the Mokpo area (Culture and Arts Center and Indoor Gymnasium). A total of 83 artists from 20 countries will participate, presenting a wide range of genres including painting, installation, and media art that encompass both the tradition and modernity of ink art.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
