The Soul of Korean Landscape Painting Heo Ryeon, known by the evocative pen-name Sochi, stands as a luminous figure in the annals of Korean art history. Born in 1809 during the twilight of the Joseon Dynasty, his life and work served as a profound testament to artistic integrity amidst an era of mounting national pressure and social transformation. To look upon a Heo Ryeon landscape is to witness more than mere scenery; it is to encounter the contemplative spirit of the Southern School, where every brushstroke seeks to capture the inner essence of the natural world rather than its outward su…