A New Middle Kingdom

"Richly detailed, comprehensively resourced, and meticulously researched . . . call[s] into question existing narratives on Chosŏn painting by reading artworks in consideration of their collective agency and their roles in negotiating values, taste, and status at a critical historical juncture. [A New Middle Kingdom] will hence contribute significantly to the literature and ultimately enrich scholarly discussion of early modernity in East Asia."—Journal of Asian Studies

"Questioning standard paradigms in the field and investigating unexplored issues, Park discusses in detail the roles of societal transformation, political ideology, and historical conflict in the making of paintings and the formation of visual culture...The wealth of material and the comprehensive coverage make this an absorbing book...a highly articulate, impressive study."—The Art Bulletin

"Extremely thought provoking. Offers a wealth of new information to the Western reader and is a most valuable contribution to Korean art and Korean cultural and social history."—Burglind Jungmann, author of Pathways to Korean Culture: Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910

"J. P. Park's remarkable erudition permits him to question a host of hasty generalizations that continue to haunt the historiography of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese art. Densely documented yet easy to read, this book may set a new standard for regional studies of East Asian art, an exemplary instance of transcultural scholarship."—Martin Powers, Sally Michelson Davidson Professor of Chinese Arts and Cultures, University of Michigan