AHN Kyun, the Royal Court artist who painted the King’s dream

AHN Kyun, the Royal Court painter of the Chosun dynasty, who received the good graces of the royal prince ANPYEONG, perfected his personal style by studying the King’s collection of paintings and calligraphic arts by distinguished artists. The painting of the dream of the royal prince ANPYEONG, A Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land is known to be his greatest masterpiece. Presently it is under the possession of the Tenri University in Japan. A replica is exhibited at the National Central Museum. He was proficient in painting mountain landscapes. It is claimed that his brushwork is based on the style of KWAK Hui, an artist from the Northern Song Dynasty and have influenced the development of landscape painting in Indian ink of the Japanese Muromachi period.

The legendary painting, Byeokando

The painting was painted by AHN Kyun, the Royal Court painter of the Chosun dynasty. The artist illustrated the royal prince’s dream in vivid detail after three days, which is called A Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land. Upon the request of the prince, who wished to see his dream, Byeokando was painted as a response. The record of its existence was first discovered in publications by JANG Seung-eop sixty years ago. It has gained international recognition as a masterpiece and is considered to be more prominent than the original works of the Chinese art elites. Byeokando was painted as an offering to the royal prince ANPYEONG, who was ousted by King SEJO. The painting describes the beautiful pond of Changdeok palace, Buyong-Ji which embodies the artist’s wish for the royal prince AHNPYEONG to become king.