Skip to main content

Reeds and Geese

c. 1925
Kim Jin-Woo (Korean, 1883–1950)
Nine of the twelve panels of this screen contain a distinctive poetic reference to geese. According to the artist's inscription on the last panel, he gave the screen to an elderly friend as a gift. The Korean pronunciation of the characters for "reed" and "old man" are the same (no), as are the words for "geese" and "comfort" (ahn); thus, traditional Korean paintings of reeds and geese represent a wish for a peaceful life in later years.

Object Details

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.