Moon-night secret meeting 

Shin Yun-bok’s Moon-night secret meeting was painted with ink and light colors on paper. Looking closely, you can see the delicate brushwork, particularly in the flowing lines of the figures’ garments. The artist's meticulous attention to detail shows his mastery of ink wash techniques, using diluted ink to create subtle gradations of tone. These gradients suggest the soft glow of moonlight, and the textures of the architectural surfaces. Shin was a master of genre painting, or the depiction of everyday life, but he was also part of the *chungin* class, who were skilled professionals working outside the aristocracy. This may explain his fascination with intimate scenes like this, with its suggestion of social transgression. The use of paper as a support, and the fluid application of ink and color, imbues the artwork with a sense of immediacy, capturing a fleeting moment in time. By considering the materials, techniques, and social context, we gain a richer appreciation for the artwork's meaning, and challenge conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.