Although paintings of grape clusters are known in Chinese painting as early as the 13th century, they never attained the popularity and importance accorded them in the history of Korean painting. Contacts with the Chinese court by officials and artisans of the Koryo court were recorded during the 1300s, when great acclaim was attributed to the beauty of Koryo celadon wares. At this time painted imagery was also discussed and exchanged between China and Korea.
For reasons yet unknown, vertical compositions of grape clusters on undulating vine branches became favored still-life subjects for professional painters in Korea. This subtle example deserves special attention within this tradition for two reasons: first, it is a painting on silk rather than paper, which was more frequently used; and second, the brush style and plant forms point to an early date of execution when compared to other Chinese, Japanese, and Korean examples. Indeed, this may well be the earliest Korean painting of the subject known.
cxd
<P>Although paintings of grape clusters are known in Chinese painting as early as the 13th century, they never attained the popularity and importance accorded them in the history of Korean painting. Contacts with the Chinese court by officials and artisans of the Koryo court were recorded during the 1300s, when great acclaim was attributed to the beauty of Koryo celadon wares. At this time painted imagery was also discussed and exchanged between China and Korea.</p><p>For reasons yet unknown, vertical compositions of grape clusters on undulating vine branches became favored still-life subjects for professional painters in Korea. This subtle example deserves special attention within this tradition for two reasons: first, it is a painting on silk rather than paper, which was more frequently used; and second, the brush style and plant forms point to an early date of execution when compared to other Chinese, Japanese, and Korean examples. Indeed, this may well be the earliest Korean painting of the subject known.</p>
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