This is a distinguished portrait as it has some unique features. Generally, traditional portraits have the person take the folded hands posture, normally depicting the hands to put inside the sleeves. However, this portrait depicts the right hand to hold a fan and the left to put on a waistband. A position with 70% of its right-side face shown, instead of the left-side, is also considered unusual. Moreover, long and white fingernails do not commonly appear on ordinary portraits. It is actually a feature shown in Buddhist portraits of a high priest. Therefore, this work is believed to have been painted by a monk artist who was commissioned by the officials of Pyeongyang. This is a valuable work that shows the unique individuality of a regional painter and not a painter of the royal palace.

History of the Object

This is a portrait which was put in a shrine built by the officials of Pyeongyang to commemorate the work of Yi Wonik. The exact creation date and the reason for manufacturing this portrait was not known, but recently, they were verified by the writings on the portrait along with the details of Wonik Lee's anthology, Orijib. In October 1978, it was designated as tangible cultural asset number 80 of Gyeonggi-do province.