Portraits from the Envoys: Joseon Diplomacy Preserved in Paint
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The Silhak Museum's special exhibition “Portraits Brought from China: From Momentary Record to Lasting Memory” displays 77 works, including Qing- and Ming-era portraits of Joseon envoys Kim Yuk and Yi Deoksu (이덕수). The show highlights how diplomatic missions (연행, envoys to Beijing) functioned as cultural exchanges, bringing back paintings, maps, and travel records that document 17th–18th century Korea–China interactions. Notable pieces include three Kim Yuk portraits by Ming painter Ho Byeong and four Yi Deoksu portraits by Qing painter Siok, illustrating how Western-style realism influenced East Asian portraiture. The exhibition also explores portraiture’s role in capturing both outer likeness and inner spirit, and features accessible programming (barrier-free routes, sign-language videos, audio guides, tactile materials) plus contemporary works by five artists with developmental disabilities that reinterpret portrait meaning. The show runs through March 1.
