Books and Scholars’ Accoutrements (ink & colour on silk)

Ten-panel folding screen. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) Overall: 197.5 x 395 cm (77 3/4 x 155 1/2 in.); Painting only: 139.3 x 330.8 cm (54 13/16 x 130 1/4 in.) Functioning the same way as a signature in Western art, a seal impression on a chaekgeori screen is sometimes included to reveal the painter’s identity. It is called a “hidden” seal due to its discreet placement. Only about 12 works with such a “hidden” seal are known today. This screen has one on the third panel (from the right). Examined recently, the characters in the seal impression revealed that Yi Taek-gyun, a prominent court artist, is the creator of the museum’s painted screen.