HISTORY OF KOREAN ART 1

This course provides a general introduction to the history of Korean art from the ancient period to the modern era. It offers a comprehensive overview of the historical development of Korean art, covering major periods such as the Neolithic period, the Three Kingdoms period, Goryeo, Joseon, and the transitional and modern periods.

Through the study of representative artworks and visual materials, students will learn the fundamental terminology, key concepts, historical periods, and stylistic characteristics essential for understanding Korean art history. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between artistic production and its broader historical, social, and intellectual contexts.

By the end of the course, students will acquire the basic knowledge and analytical tools necessary to identify and interpret major forms of Korean artistic expression, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, and architecture.


Note: the course is conducted in ENGLISH.

Through class attendance (strongly recommended) and careful study of the assigned readings and materials provided by the instructor, students will acquire a broad and structured understanding of the development of Korean art history from prehistory to approximately the mid-20th century.
In particular:

Knowledge and Understanding
1. Students will develop knowledge of:
* the general characteristics of ancient and premodern Korean art through representative objects and monuments
* basic iconography and symbolism, and the philosophical, religious, cultural, and social elements reflected in artworks
* the chronological development of production techniques, styles, and schools, and the interaction among different artistic genres
* specialized terminology specific to Korean art history

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to:
* understand and analyze Korean artworks and monuments within broader artistic and cultural contexts, and distinguish their specific features from those of other Asian traditions
* express art historical analysis clearly and accurately using appropriate academic terminology

3. Judgment Skills
The course provides foundational tools to recognize and contextualize artworks and monuments from the Neolithic period to contemporary art. Students will learn to interpret works within their original contexts by addressing how, why, where, when, by whom, and for whom they were produced, what they represent, and how Korean art developed historically.

4. Learning Skills
Students will develop the ability to further investigate Korean art historical topics through:
*bibliographic research
*primary and secondary sources
*visual analysis
*museum collection studies

None. However, basic knowledge of art history may be helpful for a better understanding of the course.

Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire a basic understanding of Korean art history, including its major historical periods, stylistic characteristics, and the cultural contexts that shaped artistic production.

Teaching Materials and Preparation
Before each class, the PDF version of the PowerPoint slides used during the lecture will be made available to students. Students are expected to review the materials in advance and come to class prepared. Reading the assigned materials before each class is strongly recommended.

Use of Course Materials
All course materials are intended solely for students enrolled in the course and for personal study. The reproduction, distribution, sharing, or uploading of these materials on websites, social media, or other online platforms is strictly prohibited and may constitute a violation of copyright regulations.

Korean art should not be understood merely as a branch of East Asian art, but as an artistic tradition that developed independently within Korea’s own cultural values, spiritual outlook, and way of life. This course surveys the chronological development of Korean art from prehistory to the contemporary period across a 15-week program. Classes are primarily image-based and focus on the visual analysis of key works — including Buncheong ceramics, white porcelain, Buddhist art, painting, and crafts — interpreted through a consistent methodological framework to support a humanistic understanding of Korean aesthetics and cultural identity.

The course follows a chronological structure:
Prehistoric Art (Paleolithic to Bronze Age) (c. 8000 – c. 300 BCE)
Three Kingdoms Period (Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla) (1st century BCE – 668 CE)
Unified Silla and Balhae (668–935)
Goryeo Period (918–1392)
Joseon Period (1392–1910)
Transitional Period (1910–1945)

All volumes used as required texts are available for consultation in the designated “Textbooks” section located at the front office of the East Asian Library, Palazzo Vendramin, 1st floor.

For geographic and chronological orientation of East Asia, refer to: Barnes, Gina L., Archaeology of East Asia: The Rise of Civilization in China, Korea and Japan, Oxbow Books, Oxford 2015, Chapter I – Orientation: pp. XVI–XVII (chronological tables), 1–7 (Grounding / National chronologies), 13–25 (East Asian cultural successions). The indicated sections are also accessible at the following internet address:
https://books.google.it/books?id=bAJDCwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=it#v=onepage&q&f=false

MANDATORY
The adopted textbook is still one of the best references for framing the history of Korean art.
If desired, it can be purchased online at a price ranging roughly from €5 to €10 (shipping excluded): Portal, Jane, Korea – Art and Archaeology, The Trustees of The British Museum, London 2000. Required: pp. 9–11, 20–107 + Appendix 1, pp. 215–227 (excluding information concerning Joseon ceramics).
However, since the textbook is rather limited in content and in some respects dated, it must be supplemented with other materials that better frame certain topics and expand others, while at the same time providing alternative perspectives for approaching research:

Choi, Jongtaik, “The Development of the Pottery Technologies of the Korean Peninsula and Their Relationship to Neighbouring Regions”. In Byington, Mark E. (ed.), Early Korea 1. Reconsidering Early Korean History Through Archaeology, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA) 2008, pp. 157-198.
Chung, Woothak, “Iconography, Technique, and Context in Koryŏ Buddhist Paintings” (escluso il paragrafo Iconographic Succession from Koryŏ to Chŏson) + Joo, Kyeongmi, “The Gold Jewelry of Ancient Silla: Syncretism of Northern and Southern Asian Cultures”. In Kim, Youn-mi (ed.), Early Korea Project Occasional Series. New Perspectives on Early Korean Art: From Silla to Koryŏ, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA) 2013, pp. 11-40, 50-72, 243-302.
Kim, Sunkyung, “Sculptures of the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla” + Choi, Sun-ah, “Koryŏ Buddhist Sculpture: Issues and History”. In Park, J.P. – Jungmann, Burglind – Rhi, Juhyung (ed.), A companion to Korean art, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken (NJ) 2020, pp. 57-82, 159-178.
Park, J.P., Burglind Jungmann, Juhyung Rhi (eds). 2020. A Companion to Korean Art. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
The Arts of Korea: A Resource for Educators — Elizabeth Hammer (ed.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2001.
Available for free download: https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/the-arts-of-korea-a-resource-for-educators

FURTHER READINGS:
Kim, Hongnam. The Story of a Painting: A Korean Buddhist Treasure from the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation. New York: Asia Society Gallery, 1991.
Hammer, Elizabeth (ed.), The Arts of Korea. A Resource for Educators, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2001. Scaricabile gratuitamente da: https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/the-arts-of-korea-a-resource-for-educators
Kim, Kumja Paik, Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco 2003.
Korean Art Book series, Published by Yekyong, (English Translation), 2004
Kim, Lena. Buddhist Sculpture of Korea (Korean Culture Series), Hollym, Elizabeth (NJ) 2007.
Starkman, Christine (ed.), Tradition and Innovation in Korean Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 2014. Scaricabile gratuitamente da: https://www.mfah.org/research/kinder-foundation-education-center/kinder-foundation-gallery-resources
Soowan Joo, Sansa Buddhist Mountain Monasteries, Published by Jogyejong Publi

Student knowledge and skills are evaluated through a 90-minute written exam consisting of:
1. Identification of Essay question:
Students will write an essay analyzing a cultural heritage object, artwork, or historical artifact, focusing on aspects such as iconography, technique, or stylistic features.
2. Identification multiple-choice or short-answer questions: The exam will also include 10 questions.
Each question will address one of the key points emphasized.

* The written exam will be held in ENGLISH.

written

The final grade (minimum 18/30, maximum 30/30) is determined by the sum of the scores obtained in the three exam sections.

Lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations.
In the 2025–26 academic year, the course will be taught in ENGLISH.

Course Schedule and Attendance
Due to unavoidable circumstances, the course will run from February 2026 until May 15, 2026. In addition, four intensive Friday sessions will be held from 15:45 to 17:15 on the following dates: April 3, April 10, April 17, and May 8.

Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Recording or photographing PowerPoint materials during class is not permitted; therefore, regular attendance is highly encouraged.

All course materials are intended solely for students enrolled in the course and for personal study. The reproduction, distribution, sharing, or uploading of these materials on websites, social media, or other online platforms is strictly prohibited and may constitute a violation of copyright regulations.