Park Soo Keun

We pay the highest possible prices for works by Park Soo Keun

PARK SOO KEUN (Korean, 1914-1965).

Park Soo Keun is a unique figure in the history of Korean modern art.

Soo Keun was born in Jeong-lim-ri, Yanggu-myeon, Yanggu-gun in 1914. Drawn to painting by his affection for the French artist Millet's "The Angelus" -- a scene of religious piety set in the countryside -- his art stayed true to his Korean roots, and was infused with his personal passion for his native land and its people. He won a succession of prizes, starting at age 18, and became known for agrarian genre scenes depicting common tasks including farming. Another of his signature images is that of a woman carrying her baby on her back.

In 1945 he became a teacher at Kumsung Middle School, and was affiliated with the emerging Communist party of South Korea. His paintings from this era display nuanced textures and a continuing interest in peasant subjects. As his reputation grew Keun's work was exhibited in other parts of Asia including Manila. Following the artist's death in 1965, he became truly famous on an international level . In recent years Park Soo Keun's work has set records at international auctions, and his legacy continues to grow. Because of the value of Keun's work, forgeries have been reported, and potential collectors are advised to be cautious about works that are not accompanied by strong provenance records.

We pay the highest possible prices for works by Park Soo Keun

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