An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Jar with Dragon and Clouds Designlate 1600s
In traditional Korean art, dragons have been used as an emblem of royalty. Over many centuries, the ways of depicting this powerful mythical creature evolved and varied in response to artistic trends and socioeconomic changes. On this jar from the 1600s, the artist drew a whimsical dragon with bulging eyes who wraps his scaled body around the vessel. The artist’s aim here was to capture the wild spirit of the supernatural creature with free flowing calligraphic brushstrokes.
A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in pre-modern East Asia, thus the image of dragons was used exclusively for the king's paraphernalia.
porcelain with underglaze iron
Diameter of base: 13.7 cm (5 3/8 in.); Overall: 34.7 cm (13 11/16 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
In the serene embrace of a quiet gallery, the air seems to hum with the whispers of history. Imagine a traditional Korean jar, crafted in the 1600s, resting gracefully on a weathered wooden pedestal. This jar, a humble vessel, tells a story of time and artistry, echoing the royal lineage it once celebrated.
As you draw closer, your gaze is met by the vibrant brushstrokes of a whimsical dragon, its bulging eyes gleaming with mischief and wisdom. The dragon, a powerful symbol of royalty throughout centuries, has come to life on the porcelain surface, wrapping its scaled body around the jar as if guarding its secrets.
You can almost feel the pulse of the era — artistic trends dancing and shifting like the gentle breeze, while the socioeconomic changes of the time influenced the artist's hand. With each swift, free-flowing stroke of calligraphy, the artist sought not just to depict a creature of myth, but to encapsulate a wild spirit, wild as the winds that carried tales of old.
In this quiet moment, the jar stands as a testament to an evolving tradition, inviting you to ponder the stories held within its curves, the breath of history captured in every line. The whimsical dragon beckons you to explore the profound connection between artistry and legacy, reminding you that in every piece of art, a story patiently waits to unfold.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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