Gim Eung-won 金應元 (Kim Ung-won)

Little is known about the life of Gim Eung-won, although he stands as one of the major painters during a period of tumultuous political, social and cultural transition in Korea at the end of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) and during the first decade of colonial annexation by Japan (1910–1945). Gim established his reputation as an outstanding master of orchid painting in monochrome ink. He painted in the style of his illustrious nineteenth-century predecessor and probable mentor, Yi Ha-eung (1820–1898), a renowned orchid painter and a prince in the Yi royal family. Contemporary Korean painters and scholars praise Gim for infusing his models with a personal style of serenity and grace.