Boating on the clear river 

Shin Yoon-bok painted "Boating on the Clear River," sometime between 1758 and 1814, using ink and light colors on paper. The scene depicts a group of elegantly dressed figures enjoying a boat ride. Observe the attire, especially the diverse hats. These are not merely decorative; they signify social standing and adherence to Confucian ideals of hierarchy and order. This interest in clothing as a symbol of social order reminds me of similar displays in Renaissance portraiture, where garments reflect status and virtue. But here, in this Korean painting, the clothing also conceals, perhaps hinting at hidden desires or social transgressions beneath the surface of propriety. The relaxed posture of the figures suggests leisure, but the coy glances exchanged between some hint at underlying tensions. It evokes a psychoanalytic reading, inviting us to ponder the submerged desires and anxieties that animate human interactions, a theme that continues to resonate across centuries. It's a vivid illustration of how symbols can both reflect and obscure the true nature of social life.