Chaekgeori: Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens

Chaekgeori: Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens showcases a unique type of Korean still-life painting called chaekgeori (pronounced check-oh-ree), translated as “books and things.” They commonly feature scholarly objects, exotic luxuries, symbolic flowers, and gourmet delicacies.

This international exhibition explores the stylistic evolution of chaekgeori screens and reveals surprising artistic evidence of cross-cultural interaction between early modern Korea and the world. Chaekgeori artists drew inspiration from Chinese display cabinets of the Qing period (1644–1911), and adapted European painting techniques to produce striking illusionistic effects. These screens received high praise from King Jeongjo (reigned 1776–1800), and soon became popular among the educated elite. By the late 1800s, chaekgeori screens furnished the studies of scholars and aristocrats as well as the homes of middle-class merchants.