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How did Japanese occupation affect Korean painting in the early 20th century?
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Korean art
Dragon jar, porcelain with iron-painted decoration under clear glaze, Korea, mid-17th century; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York. 31.4 × 37.1 cm. Diameter at mouth 12 cm. Diameter at base 9.5 cm.
During the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), Korean painting underwent significant transformation as modern artistic practices were introduced and refracted through Japan.1
The occupation fundamentally altered the landscape of Korean art in several ways:
- Institutional Influence: The Japanese established the only modern facilities for studying painting, whether Asian or Western, and inaugurated annual exhibitions for Korean artists to promote new academic styles.1
- Western-Style Painting: The concept of art as a professional career rather than a gentleman’s avocation gained traction. Many Korean artists traveled to Tokyo to study oil painting, which eventually became a dominant field. The primary trend in this medium was a representational style rooted in Impressionism.1
- Shift in Artistic Direction: Modern painting diverged into two main paths: Western-style painting practiced by Japanese-trained artists and Eastern-style painting, which continued the use of traditional ink or coloured ink.1
- Resistance and Adaptation: While traditionalists initially resisted these changes, the Japanese impact proved irresistible. By the 1930s, the broader pattern of Korean painting had shifted to incorporate these new Japanese and European influences.1