Get a copy of Calla - lee in-sung

Artwork Description

This work has winned the prize in the 11th Chosun Art Exhibition. In-Sung Lee has displayed this painting while he was learning art in Japan. He has made a conspicuous figure in the art world when Korea was under the reign of Japan. From 1932, he has winned 6 continuous special prizes in the Chosun Art Exhibition. He became an invited artist of the Chosun Art Exhibition in 1937 but passed away during Korean war in 1950. This early period work was painted while his peculiar expressive style was forming. It is a work of watercolors but it has the opaque and turbid aspects of oil painting. It belonged to the Korean royal family but it was given to a minister and one of his descendants had kept it until recently. The national museum of contemporary art in Korea found this painting in 1988. The title is a Japanese name for calla lily. The white calla lily is flower that has the meaning of restoration so this painting can be interpreted as a desire for the liberation of his country. The vertical setting of the flower and vase and the horizontal short brush strokes are very harmonic and create a stable composition.

Related Artworks

Artist Biography

The Dawn of a Korean Visionary

Born in the heart of Daegu in 1912, Lee In-sung emerged as a singular force in the evolution of Korean modern art, an artist whose brush captured the very soul of a changing nation. Raised within an artistic lineage, his early years were steeped in a profound appreciation for visual expression, nurtured by parents who were artists themselves. As Korea navigated the turbulent waters of rapid modernization and Japanese colonial rule, Lee sought to forge a path that was both contemporary and deeply rooted in his heritage. His journey through the Seoul Art School allowed him to absorb the whispers of the European avant-garde, yet his heart remained tethered to the soil of his homeland, setting the stage for an artistic career that would eventually earn him the evocative title of Korea’s Gauguin.

A Symphony of Saturated Hues and Local Color

Lee In-sung’s brushwork was a bold rebellion against academic rigidity, favoring instead an immersive experience of color and form. Heavily influenced by the expressive palettes of Paul Gauguin, Lee translated these Western stylistic principles into a uniquely Korean idiom, seeking to capture the essence of his country's natural beauty through unparalleled vibrancy. He possessed an uncanny ability to translate atmospheric qualities into pigment, particularly through his mastery of light and seasonal shifts. His technique was characterized by:

Layered Luminosity: A method of building color to create a sense of depth that mirrored the hazy, golden light of Korean autumn days.
Bold Brushstrokes: Using saturated, opaque strokes that gave even his watercolors an almost oil-like, tactile presence.
Symbolic Landscapes: Depicting nature not just as scenery, but as a vessel for emotion and national identity.

In masterpieces such as On an Autumn Day, one finds a striking fusion of the exotic and the indigenous, where vibrant sunflowers and lush greenery evoke a sense of pristine, untouched beauty. Even in his still lifes, such as the celebrated Calla, Lee utilized the symbolic weight of flowers to reflect deeper desires for restoration and liberation, creating compositions that were both stable and harmonically profound.

Legacy Forged in the Crucible of History

The trajectory of Lee’s career was marked by both meteoric success and profound tragedy. From 1932, he achieved an unprecedented feat, winning six consecutive special prizes at the Chosun Art Exhibition, a testament to his growing influence and technical mastery. However, his life and work were inextricably linked to the political upheavals of his era. While his participation in exhibitions during the Japanese occupation remains a subject of historical nuance, his relentless pursuit of local color served as a vital preservation of Korean aesthetic identity amidst external pressures. His life was tragically cut short during the Korean War in 1950, yet his artistic spirit endured. Today, Lee In-sung is remembered not merely as a painter of landscapes, but as a pioneer who dared to paint the heart of a nation through a kaleidoscope of brilliant, enduring color.

lee in-sung

1912 - 1950 , South Korea

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Paul Gauguin influence
Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Contemporary Korean artists']
Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['Paul Gauguin']
Date Of Birth: 1912
Full Name: Lee In-sung
Nationality: Korean
Notable Artworks: ['On an Autumn Day']
Place Of Birth: Daegu, South Korea

lee in-sung: The Full Collection

Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.

Popular

Calla

Collectible Description

Artist Biography

Hand Made Oil Reproduction

Reproduction Frame

White $1

Blurside $1

Extended $1

P118B $10

P118H $10

P118W $10

P438Z $10

P508JH $12

P508YH $12

P805H $10

P805Z $10

P919BZ $10

P919G $10

P919XJ $10

P959ZH $10

P968JZ $12

W106C $8

W218G $10

W218JH $8

W218Y $10

W307PJ $10

W316G $10

W316PJ $8

W316Y $10

W398PJ $8

W4111J $10

W500HY $15

W500JH $15

W692G $12

W849H $8

W940BG $15

W953PJ $8

H24-GOLD $40

H24-SILVER $40

H36-GOLD $60

H36-SILVER $60

Framed

Reproduction Size

Artwork Customization

Artist Skill Level

Nameplate

Engraved Bronze Plaque Details

Transparent Acrylic Plaque Details

Black Acrylic Plaque Details

Protective Varnish

Urgent Production

Included Benefits

Free Worldwide Express Shipping

High-Quality Linen Canvas

Full Shipping Insurance

Customs Tax Refund Guarantee

True Color Matching Guarantee

60-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)

100% Money-Back Guarantee

Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 272

Summary

Reproduction Medium

-

Elite Senior Artist

-

Reproduction Frame

-

Nameplate

-

Protective Varnish

-

Customize My Artwork

-

Urgent

-

Express Shipping

Included

Total Price