Scholar-painter and calligrapher noted for bird-and-animal and ink plum paintings; art name Changgang; rose to the post of Jinseon
| Life | 1595 ~ 1668 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Jo Sok (1595-1668) was a scholar-painter and calligrapher of the late Joseon period from the Pungyang Jo clan, courtesy name Huion, art names Changgang, Chwichu and Chwiong. He rose to the post of Jinseon.
He excelled in plum, bamboo, birds and animals, cut branches and landscapes, and especially in birds and animals; his paintings of this kind are noted for a distinctly Korean character. His ink plums are said to resemble the brushwork of Eo Mong-ryong.
He also developed his own calligraphy but is said to have had the habit of not signing his works. Surviving works include Old Tree with Magpies (Deoksugung Museum), Plum (National Museum of Korea) and Plum and Magpies and Monkey in private hands.
Yeongmohwa means paintings of birds and animals. Jo Sok's are judged distinctly Korean in character, and his ink plums resemble the brushwork of Eo Mong-ryong.
Because he refused to sign his works, few can be certainly attributed to him; the best known are Old Tree with Magpies, Plum, Plum and Magpies and Monkey.