Note on the Image                                                      Back to the image

18. King’s Decree of Pardon from Death for Yi Sun-shin

(The Baseless Pardon from Death)

Admiral Yi received the letter of pardon from death 

with no ground and his weighty expressive, sculpted face and gesture 

built in heavy impasto strokes emphasize his troubled emotion. 

The lighted opaque central area with the expressive surface texture 

stands out against the transparent shadows of the dark back 

ground of the surrounding ocean.

The verticality of the figure is accented by the pillar behind him. 

However, the horizontal ocean line strongly bisects the heavy vertical elements

for the necessary balance.