history

Kang Se Hwang (1713-1791) was very good at calligraphy, painting and poem and was also widely known as a critic.

His courtesy name was Kwangji and his pen name was Phyoam. He had certain influence over the contemporary painting circles for his high insight, individual creativity and impartially correct criticism.

He drew many landscapes and paintings of flowers and birds and was also good at calligraphy. 

With deep knowledge and aesthetic view of classical legacies, he offered lots of comments on the works of successive painters, and he became widely known not only in Korea but also in a neighbouring country.

He passed a state examination and worked as the minister of Culture and Education at that time. He even drew a number of paintings at the request of the king. He earned the special trust of the king, but he was always modest and simple in life.

That was why poets of those days composed poems about the talented painter and outstanding calligrapher and critic to hand them down to posterity.