Phoenixes

This painting decorated the east wall of Daejojeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace. It splendidly depicts 10 phoenixes with a waterfall, rocks, peonies, and paulownia trees. The painting was painted by 31-year old O Il-yeong (1890-1960) and 17-year old Yi Yong-u (1902-1953) in collaboration, and attached to the east wall of Daejojeon Hall which was reconstructed in 1920 three years after it was burned down due to a fire in Changdeokgung Palace. While faithfully maintaining Joseon’s tradition of the paintings of birds and flowers, and that of royal decorative paintings, the painting also reflected the new wave of the time with subjects that had never appeared before in royal decorative paintings of Joseon.

White Cranes

This painting adorned the west wall of Daejojeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace. It features 16 white cranes with the motifs from the ten symbols of longevity and brightly colored peonies. 

The painting was produced by 29-year old Kim Eun-ho (1892-1979) who was then a rising artist, and attached to the west wall of Daejojeon Hall which was reconstructed in 1920 three years after it was burned down due to a fire in Changdeokgung Palace. While faithfully maintaining Joseon’s tradition of the paintings of birds and flowers, and that of royal decorative paintings, the painting also reflected the new wave of the time with subjects that had never appeared before in royal decorative paintings of Joseon.