Provenance: Journeys of Korean Art

Provenance: Journeys of Korean Art explores the fascinating stories behind how Korean artworks entered the museum’s collection. Some were purchased from dealers or auction houses, while others were discovered during research trips or received as gifts and donations. The installation features remarkable objects, including A Royal Outing, an 1800s folding screen given by a Korean king to his American English teacher, and Amitabha Triad, discovered unexpectedly in a pawn shop. Through these stories, the exhibition highlights the importance of provenance and how an artwork’s history of ownership can reveal its cultural, social and political context.

A Royal Outing, 1700s–1800s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).