Artwork
Bamboos in Wind
Bamboos in Wind is an unspecified painting by the Korean Minhwa artist Kim Jin-woo. It dates from 1934 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2022.91
- Credit line
- Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
About this work
Look up korea, japanese colonial period (1910−1945) to see how other artists responded to the same moment.
You see a cluster of bamboo stalks bending sharply in a storm, leaves whipping like blades.
Kim made this in 1934, when Korea was under Japanese rule. The sharp, jagged strokes weren’t just about wind, they were a quiet act of defiance. The bamboo stands firm, even when it looks like it might snap.
Look up korea, japanese colonial period (1910−1945) to see how other artists responded to the same moment.
Overview
Bamboos in Wind is a 1934 painting by Jin-woo Kim, created during the Japanese colonial period in Korea.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a cluster of bamboo stalks swaying in a storm, their leaves whipping like blades. The bamboo's resilience is a powerful symbol, and the work is thought to convey the artist's resistance to Japanese colonial rule.
Technique & Style
Kim's brushstrokes are characterized by sharp, jagged lines, evoking the image of knives and iron spears. This expressive style emphasizes the bamboo's strength and flexibility.
History & Provenance
The painting was made in 1934, a time when Korea was under Japanese rule. Kim's work was influenced by this context, and his art earned him a reputation for its expressive and symbolic qualities.
Context
The artwork reflects the artist's response to the Japanese colonial period, a time of significant cultural and political upheaval in Korea.
Artist & collection
