The Guimet Museum in Paris will present the exhibition "Le savoir en trompe-l'œil" (Knowledge in Trompe-l'œil) from September 16, 2026, to January 4, 2027, exploring the art of trompe-l'œil in 18th-century Korea. The show traces two centuries of Korean artistic creation during the Joseon era, featuring paintings, folding screens, porcelain, and decorative objects that demonstrate how artists blurred the line between reality and fiction. King Jeongjo commissioned trompe-l'œil libraries from the Royal Academy to surround himself with books and knowledge, and the exhibition highlights cross-cultural exchanges with China, Japan, and the West.
The exhibition matters because it sheds light on a distinctive chapter of Korean art history that is often overlooked in Western museums, revealing how trompe-l'œil served not only as visual illusion but as a vehicle for intellect and virtue. By presenting works from the 18th to the 20th century, the Guimet Museum offers a rare opportunity to understand the evolution of Korean artistic techniques, materials, and cultural influences, deepening appreciation for the role of illusion in art across different societies.