Note on the Image                                                     back to the image

Y16.  Self-Portrait as Mother of Yi Sun-shin praying

Yi’s mother used to pray for her son’s safety besides of the Korean traditional chimney in the back yard.

The atmosphere is dark and tenebrous.     

The strong light source illuminates features of the face of the devotional mother in this  anecdotal episode in the nocturnal setting. 

The dramatic effect of the strong chiaroscuro - in sharp light and dark contrast -   registers her worry expression even the grieving sorrow of mother and reveals the high impasto of the expressive surface texture and enhances the mood of tragic meditation that dominated the mother’s aspect.

Mother’s devotion is concentrated in her clasped hands in prayer.

The behind light source of the subject creates a moving life-like quality of the background and helps to create the perspective of the scene