Portrait of the Couple Bak Yeon

The portrait of the couple Bak Yeon is housed in the Gugak Museum of the National Gugak Center.
At the top of the portrait is the statement, “This is the portrait of ‘Nangye’ Bak ‘Master of Literature.’ By assisting King Sejong, he achieved the status Civil Servant of the Second Rank(yijo panseo daejehak). He died at the age of 81, the year Muin(1458) during the reign of King Sejo.”
The portrait is thought to have been made during the late Joseon Dynasty according to the style of painting and its use of colors, brush strokes, and techniques. At the same time it demonstrated the ancient style in its form and structure.
This portrait of Bak Yeon is of great significance because it was he who established the royal court music of the Joseon Dynasty. This music has been passed down as part of the important treasury of the nation’s music heritage through The Gugak Museum of the National Gugak Center, the institutional descendants of the Joseon Court.