The reverse side of the 1,000-won banknote features “Gyesangjeonggeodo,” a painting by the famous artist Jeong Seon of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The authenticity of a painting by a famous artist of the Joseon era, used as a design on the reverse of the 1,000-won note, has been called into question by a painting appraiser.
The painting and calligraphy appraisal expert also claimed that many art works by other artists, listed as cultural properties, are actually forgeries.
Lee Dong-cheon said in his recent book that ``Gyesangjeonggeodo,'' a landscape by the renowned painter Jeong Seon during the late Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), was a forgery. The painting was also part of the design for the 1,000-won note, which has been used since January last year.
``Jeong's works show similar qualities to one another. But the painting has low-quality brush strokes, although it was reportedly painted in 1746 when he was 70 years old and his ability had fully matured,'' Lee said.
He also claimed many paintings listed as treasures and kept at major museums such as the National Museum of Korea, Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, and Gansong Art Museum are also fakes.
Lee said that 19 paintings from a 25-page picture book by Joseon painter Kim Hong-do are fake, saying they had traces of Chinese ink which is believed to be used for forgeries. He also said another work of Kim, believed to have been painted in the 18th century, used a dye developed in the late 19th century.
Lee was the pupil of Yang Renkai, one of China's most renowned appraisers for ancient paintings and calligraphy.
Experts in art circles doubt Lee's claims. ``Gyesangjeonggeodo was designated as a cultural asset in 1973. We will examine the painting again, but most appraisal experts have agreed on its authenticity,'' a Cultural Heritage Administration official said.
Some art history professors raised the question whether Lee made the decision about forgery after directly examining the paintings, as it is difficult to see the old, precious works.
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