Who painted Landscape with Fishermen?

Landscape with Fishermen was painted by Yi Bul-hae in 1604.

Where can I see Landscape with Fishermen?

Landscape with Fishermen is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Landscape with Fishermen?

Landscape with Fishermen is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Landscape with Fishermen

Yi Bul-hae , 1604

Landscape with Fishermen is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Yi Bul-hae. It dates from 1604 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2015.516
Credit line: Gift from the Collection of George Gund III

About this work

Dark rocks seem to float above the water, and moss hangs from bare trees on the shore.

A fisherman in a straw poncho sits in a small boat on a quiet river. Dark rocks seem to float above the water, and moss hangs from bare trees on the shore.

This painting shows a quiet moment in nature, not a grand scene. The artist used soft edges and misty light to make the air feel cold and damp. It’s a private, almost secret view of life in 1600s Korea.

To see more works like this, look up Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).

Overview

Landscape with Fishermen is a 17th-century Korean painting depicting a serene, solitary moment in nature. A fisherman, clad in a straw rain poncho and wide-brimmed hat, sits in a small boat on a quiet river, surrounded by atmospheric elements that evoke rain, evening light, and frosty air.

Subject & Meaning

The painting focuses on an intimate, everyday scene rather than a grand or dramatic one. The fisherman, reeds, rocks, and withered trees with hanging moss convey a sense of tranquility and isolation, inviting the viewer to contemplate a private, quiet aspect of life during the Joseon dynasty.

Technique & Style

The artist employed soft edges and misty light to create a sense of cold, damp air. This visual approach emphasizes the serene and contemplative atmosphere of the scene, characteristic of Joseon dynasty landscape paintings that often prioritized evocative, subtle environmental depictions.

History & Provenance

Created during the mid- to late 16th century, this work aligns with the common subjects of Joseon dynasty landscape paintings from that time, which frequently featured solitary, atmospheric moments in nature.

Context

Understanding this painting benefits from knowledge of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), a period when such landscapes reflected the cultural emphasis on harmony with nature and the appreciation of subtle, everyday moments.