Who painted Persimmon Village?

Persimmon Village was painted by Ch'ang-yon Ham in 1950.

Where can I see Persimmon Village?

Persimmon Village is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Persimmon Village

Ch'ang-yon Ham , 1950

Persimmon Village is a print by Ch'ang-yon Ham. It dates from 1950 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Persimmon Village is a colour woodblock print created in 1950 by Korean artist Ham Ch'ang‑yŏn. Executed as a flat, graphic composition, the work portrays a rural settlement framed by bright orange fruit trees and modest architecture, rendered in bold outlines against a light ground.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a moment of seasonal harvest, with women gathered under a roof to sort fruit into baskets and bowls, while a man and child approach along a low wall. The presence of persimmon trees, a fruit linked to Korean festive customs, underscores themes of communal labor and seasonal renewal.

Technique & Style

Ham employs traditional colour woodblock methods, using a limited palette of vivid hues and stark black lines to define forms. The print’s surface is flat and decorative, emphasizing clear shapes and a simplified perspective that foregrounds pattern over depth.

History & Provenance

Produced in the early post‑war period, the print reflects Ham’s engagement with Korean folk subjects during a time of cultural reconstruction. It remains part of private collections and has been exhibited in surveys of mid‑20th‑century Korean printmaking.

Context

The work aligns with a broader movement among Korean artists of the 1950s who revisited rural motifs and traditional techniques to assert national identity. Ham’s focus on everyday village life parallels contemporaneous efforts to document and celebrate Korean cultural heritage.