A Socio-Scientific Analysis of the Artistic Originality of Tanwŏn Kim Hongdo

This study explores the direct and indirect influences that are presumed to have contributed to the artistic originality of Tanwŏn Kim Hongdo (檀園 金弘道, 1745–1806) by employing a multidimensional analysis and a social-scientific approach to creativity. To identify the sources of his artistic innovation, individuals associated with Kim were categorized into six groups, each of which played a significant role during specific periods of his life and artistic development. In Kim’s early years, as he established himself as a painter in the Tohwasŏ (Royal Bureau of Painting), the literati group led by Kang Sehwang and the Tohwasŏ painters were pivotal. During his middle years, when he mastered diverse painting styles and became the nation’s leading artist, the Pukhak (Northern Learning) scholars surrounding King Chŏngjo and the Ansan Fifteen Scholars group led by I Ik and Chŏng Yagyong were instrumental. In his later years, when Kim achieved artistic originality, the epigraphic studies group led by Kim Chŏnghŭi and the middle-class literati circle were decisive in shaping his style. This study also highlights the geographical environment of Ch'ŏnggyech'ŏn and Inwangsan, where the luxurious residences of noblemen coexisted with modest tile-roofed houses of middle-class individuals, as well as King Chŏngjo’s reform policies, which promoted talent regardless of social status. Furthermore, the social atmosphere that allowed middle-class individuals to embrace the refined tastes of the nobility and Kim’s diverse connections across social boundaries contributed to the establishment of his complex identity. Drawing on social identity theory, the study argues that this complexity significantly fueled Kim’s creative emergence. Ultimately, this research reinterprets Kim Hongdo’s artistic originality not as a product of innate genius but as a reflection of his era and society. This perspective not only demystifies the concept of ‘genius Kim Hongdo’ but also offers insights into the nature of originality and creativity, providing inspiration for contemporary audiences.