Baekrodo (Painting of Egret)
(Assumably) Jo Sok
Indian ink on silk
Joseon dynasty
19cm x 23.5cm 

Jo Sok(1595~1668) is the representative literary painter of the middle of Joseon period who was good at paintings of flowers and birds in Indian ink. There are tens of paintings assumed to be his works. This painting of egret which seems to sleepily standing by the water with reeds and lotus leaves is also one of the works assumed to be his. The technique using Indian ink reflects well the characteristics of the painting style in the middle of the Joseon period. Actually, the favorite subject of Jo Sok was wild birds, and the form of the egret differs from that of egrets in other three works assumed to be his.