"Local color" "향토색" in Korean Art of the 20th Century

In 1910 Korea lost its sovereignty and became a colony of Japan. The Japanese government, following the March 1st Movement in 1919, decided to implement a policy of "cultural governance" aimed at weakening the existing regime. As part of this policy, the Joseon Art Exhibition was opened annually from 1922 to 1944. Paintings depicting ethnographic aspects of Korea, rural landscapes, girls, and children gained special popularity among Japanese jury of the Exhibition. These images of traditional agrarian Korea developed within the framework of the "local color" movement known as "향토색" in Korean art. The present study focuses on exploring the "local color" trend in Korean art of the 20th century. The "local color" movement in Korean art evolved in the 1920s and 1930s when Korea was under Japanese rule. It is necessary to delve more precisely into the development and formation of this trend during that specific period. The research examines Japan's cultural and artistic policies during that time, explores the formation and development of the "local color" movement, and analyzes paintings depicting local color created by Korean artists. The study reveals that the development and establishment of "local color" as a movement in Korean art of the 20th century is a complex phenomenon that needs to be viewed not only through the lens of Japan's policies but also considering the changes within Korean society and art scene of that time.