Jang Seung-eop

Jang Seung-eop was a painter of the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. His life was dramatized in the award-winning 2002 film Chi-hwa-seon directed by Im Kwon-taek. He was one of the few painters to hold a position of rank in the Joseon court. Jang was born in 1843 in Seoul as an orphan. He learned painting from a young age while staying at another family's house. He first had the opportunity to paint extensively when he was taken into the household of aristocrat Yi Ung-heon in his 20s. Later, his talent became widely known, and he painted extensively in all genres of the time, including landscapes, flower paintings, and paintings of daily life. He was especially skilled at painting with one stroke of the brush, without making any preliminary sketches or drafts. He also had a fondness for alcohol and women, which often influenced his paintings and lifestyle. Jang adopted the art name Owon, which means "my garden", to express his love for nature and freedom. He also used the courtesy name Gyeongyu, which means "scenic leisure". He was influenced by various styles of painting, such as Chinese literati painting, Western realism, and Korean folk painting. He developed his own unique style that combined realism and impressionism, with vivid colors and dynamic brush strokes. He is considered one of the greatest painters of the Joseon period, along with Danwon and Hyewon, who are collectively known as the "Three Wons". Jang's life was full of ups and downs, as he experienced the turmoil and changes of the late Joseon era. He witnessed the Japanese invasion of Korea, the Donghak Peasant Revolution, the Gabo Reform, and the Sino-Japanese War. He also suffered from poverty, loneliness, and illness. He disappeared from history in 1897, at the age of 55. His exact cause and place of death are unknown. His paintings, however, have survived and are regarded as national treasures of Korea.