Ex-Pres. Rhee’s color ink painting found for the first time

A color ink painting painted by former President Rhee Syng-man has been found for the first time. There are several pieces of handwritings of the former president who was good at calligraphy and painting, but it is the first time that his painting was found. Experts say that the painting is a rare piece that shows what an intellectual was like at the end of the Joseon Dynasty.

Hwang Pil-hong, a Dankook university professor, said on Wednesday, “I found former President Rhee’s colored ink painting and handwritings in the scrapbook of paintings and writings which was made by 61 celebrities for the 60th birthday of Lee Gyu-ik, a former lawmaker of a parliament of the end of the Joseon Dynasty.” The scrapbook consisting of two books titled “Heonsoocheop” was made in 1911 when the former president was 36 years old. The scrapbook also contained works of high-level officials of the end of the Joseon Dynasty who were known for excellent calligraphy including Kim Seong-geun, Kim Ga-jin, Min Hyeong-sik, and Lee Woo-myeon.

Rhee’s painting shows a heap of yellow and pink chrysanthemums blooming around strange rocks and bizarre stones, which looks noble and fresh at the same time. It seems to reflect Rhee as a young man who returned home after finishing a Ph.D in Princeton. When he drew the painting, he was engaged in a mass education drive and involved in the 105 people incident, in which the Japanese colonial rule tried to suppress Korean patriots. A year later, he exiled to the U.S.

He wrote this in Chinese characters besides his painting, “Congratulations on your 60th birthday. I wish you wealth and long life. From Rhee Syng-man. In September 1911.”Someone wrote on the left top of the scrapbook, “Ph.D., his different name is Chi-seong, his pen name is Woo-nam. He is from Jeonju and 16th generation of Prince Yangnyeong. He graduated from Washington University in the U.S.,” indicating that the piece was painted by the former president.

Lee Dong-guk, head of the calligraphy department of the Seoul Arts Center and expert in calligraphy and ancient art, said, “It’s correct that former President Rhee wrote the handwriting in the painting. It’s an excellent piece showing calm elegance.”

Rhee was nicknamed as “Butterfly Rhee” because he was good at painting butterflies when young. “Long time ago, my husband said that he saw his father’s painting in the scrapbook by chance,” Cho Hye-jae, his daughter-in-law said. “He wants to see the painting once again.”