National Anthropological Archives

Guide to the Kim Chun-gŭn drawings of Korean life

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS211195
Creators:
Kim, Chun-gŭn, active 19th century
Shufeldt, Robert Wilson, 1822-1895
Dates:
before 1886
Languages:
Korean
.
Physical Description:
98 Drawings (visual works)
ink and watercolor
5.25 x 7 inches
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of 98 ink and watercolor drawings by the artist Kim Chun-gŭn. The drawings depict various subject including: marriage and funeral rites and ceremonies; hunting and fishing; farming; artisans and crafts; merchants and peddlers; household chores; schooling and education; military and court officials; civil servants; punishments; and musicians and performers. The drawings are titled in Hanja and stamped with the artist's seal.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Kim Chun-gŭn (also known as Kim Jun-geun, Gisan, and Kisan) was a Korean painter specializing in genre scenes illustrating traditional Korean life. His paintings were acquried by many foreign visitors in port areas such as Pusan and Wonsan at the end of 19th and early 20th centuries.
Robert Wilson Shufeldt (1822–1895) was an officer in the United States Navy best known for his negotiation of the 1882 Shufeldt Treaty with Korea. He was commander of the USS Wachusett and USS Ticonderoga, and Consul-General of the United States to Cuba.

Administration

Custodial History
The drawings were collected by Robert Wilson Shufeldt at Ch'oryang (near Pusan), South Kyŏngsang Province, 1886. They were deposited by Shufeldt in the United States National Museum as part of a larger collection of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art. USNM purchased the collection from Shufeldt's daughter, Mary A. Shufeldt, in 1901 (accession 38151).
The drawings were transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropologival Archives by Chang-su Houchins, March 1983.
Processing Information
Data and translations furnished by Chang-su Houchins, of the Department of Anthropology.

Digital Content

More …

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Kim Chun-gŭn drawings of Korean life, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Related Materials
The National Anthropological Archives holds MS 7356, reproductions of a set of drawings by Kim Chun-gŭn deposited in the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania (cat. 21574) by Mary Shufeldt. The NAA also holds photographs collected by Robert Shufeldt in Photo Lot 97 and Photo Lot 81-64 Robert W. Shufeldt photograph of American Legation in Seoul.
The collection of Chinese, Japanese and Korean objects acquired by USNM from Shufeldt is held by the Department of Anthropology (Accession Number 38151).

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
USNM Accession 38151

Variant Title

Variant Title
Korean life


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Koreans Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Korea Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
East Asia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Works of art Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu