By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The National Museum of Korea will present Japanese modern paintings at a special exhibition titled ``Fascination of Europe: Western-style Paintings in Modern Japan'' from Nov. 18 to Oct. 11 next year.
The exhibition introduces Western-style paintings by modern Japanese artists which were collected and displayed in the Yi Royal Museum from 1933 to 1943.
The paintings are part of a larger collection consisting of modern Japanese-style paintings, Western-style paintings, sculptures and craftworks.
The exhibit, featuring the artworks on human figures and landscapes, includes a total of 40 pieces; 33 oil paintings, two drawings, four prints, and one pastel drawing.
The collection of modern Japanese paintings was recommend by Masaki Naohiko (1862-1940), director of the Imperial Art Academy, and Wada Eisaku (1874-1959), president of the Tokyo Art College in Japan.
The exhibit's collection was selected by King Yeongchin (1897-1970) according to his particular tastes. According to Masaki Naohiko's diary, King Yeongchin did not accept all the paintings recommended by the Japanese arts experts.
The museum said that the collection is the first and only holding of Japanese Western-style paintings in Korea and has been carefully preserved in the Yi Royal Museum based on ``the King's choice.''
The first section, ``Encounter of East and West: Western-style Paintings in Japan,'' introduces the history of Japanese Western-style paintings from the 16th century to 20th century. Three examples from the Yi Royal Museum collections show the incorporation of traditional themes in modern oil paintings, such as the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and ``ikebana,'' or the Japanese art of flower arrangement.