Pioneering scholar of Korean painting history Ahn Whee-joon dies at 86

Ahn Whee-joon, a revered scholar who played a pivotal role in shaping the study of Korean traditional painting history, has died at the age of 86. He passed away on June 20 due to natural causes.

Ahn was a distinguished alumnus of Seoul National University, where he was among the first graduates of the Archaeology and Anthropology department. He furthered his academic pursuits at Harvard University, becoming the first to earn a doctorate in Korean painting history. Renowned for his expertise on An Gyeon, a prominent painter of the early Joseon Dynasty, Ahn dedicated over three decades to teaching at Hongik University and Seoul National University. His work was instrumental in establishing Korean painting as a significant and independent area of study within art history.

Throughout his career, Ahn championed the idea that Korean art history, rooted in prehistoric rock art and the murals of the Three Kingdoms period, developed distinct Joseon characteristics from the 15th century onwards. He engaged in significant academic discourse, notably with Choi Wan-soo, a former researcher at the Kansong Art Museum, regarding the importance of "true-view landscape painting" (Jin-gyeong hwase) from the 18th century, such as the works of Jeong Seon.

Ahn held numerous influential positions, including chairman of the Cultural Heritage Administration, president of the Korean Society of Art History, chairman of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, and a member of the National History Compilation Committee. His contributions were recognized with prestigious awards such as the Okgjo Geunjeong Medal, the Korea Science and Technology Award, and the Yongjae Academic Award. He authored a prolific body of work, including "History of Korean Painting," "Studies on Korean Painting History," and "My Research on Korean Art History."