Scholars books and things
(late 19th century)

• KOREAN

Chaekgeori (books and things) was genre of painting unique to Korea that flourished between the late eighteenth and early twentieth centuries. Depicting stacks of books, antiquarian collectibles, teapots and auspicious plants like lotus flowers, a symbol of enlightenment and spiritual harmony, chaekgeori paintings served as pictorial representations of collections of objects suitable for a scholar and gentleman to possess and display in his study. In producing chaekgeori, artists experimented with both Western linear perspective and shading techniques and traditional Asian two-dimensional motifs to establish a fascinating illusion of depth and three-dimensionality.