Korean Art Gift Ideas: Meaningful Small Prints for the Holidays
A small art print makes a good gift when it says something. In Korean art most motifs already do: the tiger guards a home, the carp climbs toward success, the peony wishes wealth and honor. Here is a short guide to choosing a print by what you want to wish someone, plus a few practical notes on timing and format. Choose by the wish A new home: the tiger. In Korean folk painting the tiger kept misfortune away, and tiger pictures were hung at the New Year for exactly that reason. Our ink tiger is a calm guardian for an entryway or a first apartment. ( The story behind it ) A graduate, a new job or a big exam: the carp. The carp that leaps the Dragon Gate becomes a dragon, and the image has long stood for passing the exam and getting ahead. Our two ink carp swim upstream together. ( The story behind it ) A wedding or an anniversary: the peony. The king of flowers stands for wealth and honor, and peony screens stood behind Joseon royal weddings. ( The story behind it ) Paren...