General View of Inner Geumgang

Sin Hak-gwon (artist name: Doam)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Korean art has a rich tradition of portraying real locations in addition to utopian landscapes. Following the destructive Japanese and Manchu invasions of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, respectively, there arose a renewed awareness of Korea’s place in East Asia and the peninsula’s natural terrain and historical sites. This panoramic view of Geumgangsan, also known as the Diamond Mountains, unfurls from right to left, showcasing rocky peaks, meandering streams, rolling hills, and Buddhist temples. Notably, the painting identifies forty-six renowned sites by name. Sin Hak-gwon intentionally mirrors the style of Jeong Seon (1676–1759), a celebrated Geumgang artist he deeply admired. However, Sin’s distinctive trademark lies in the double outlines of the spindly peaks that impart a slightly ethereal quality. Artists unable to travel to Geumgang used compositions like this one to satisfy a longing for the revered mountains.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art