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Grass and Insects refers to a painting of plants and bugs and Shin Saimdang’s painting exhibits refinement and feminine expression. 1) Grass and Insects features hydrangea, yellow chrysanthemums, white chrysanthemum, angel’s trumpet, rose mose, and other unknown wild plants along with small insects. 2) Shin Saimdang lived from 1504 (King Yonsan 10) – 1551 (Myeongjong 6). In the mid Joseon period, she was an artist skilled in poetry, drawing, and writing. She was a female artist who was a skilled writer. She was the mother of Yulgok Yi I, a statesman of Joseon, but she was also the first illustrator to produce such refined and elegant paintings.

SHIN SAIMDANG(申師任堂, 1504. 12. 5 ~ 1551. 6. 20)

Shin Saimdang is known the public as the mother of a scholar, but she tried to emulate Taeim, the greatest tradeswoman, she built her own honor as a Confucianist woman and an independent and insightful artist. Her paintings are simple yet lyrical, humble yet refined. Her Grass and Insects in particular express small organisms such as grasshoppers, butterflies, and flowers. There is more beauty because she was not indifferent to organisms of the world and drew them with care.

Reference 1) Naver Enyclopedia for children artist Shim Saimdang, Knowledge Channel (under construction) 2) Naver Enyclopedia Grass and Insects Korean Folk Art Dictionary 3) Naver Enyclopedia Shim Saimdang, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, the Academy of Korean Studies