About Yi Ahm
Born 1499. Yi Ahm was a painter.
Yi Am (, –1566) was a painter during the early- to mid-Joseon Dynasty.
As a literati court painter, Yi Am's works spanned portraiture, bird-and-flower and animal paintings. His extant paintings are famous for their unique depictions of animals, particularly dogs. He used washes of ink instead of distinct lines to define the animal bodies, a method that heavily influenced future Joseon bird-and-flower paintings. This influence spread to Japan as well; Tawaraya Sōtatsu's paintings of puppies with a similar technique have been considered a possible starting point for the development of the Rinpa school tarashikomi. The themes of natural harmony and familial love in Yi Am's animal paintings also influenced later Korean painters Byeon Sang-byeok and Kim Sik.
Biography Yi's date of birth is disputed. Sources indicate 1499 or 1507. He was the great-grandson of the fourth son of Sejong the Great, Grand Prince Imyeong and a cousin of Yi Jeong, another painter in the House of Yi. was designated a National Treasure of South Korea.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Yi Ahm?
16th century korean painter
When was Yi Ahm born?
Yi Ahm was born in 1499 in Joseon.
What was Yi Ahm's occupation?
Yi Ahm was a painter.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Yi Ahm. https://biography.guide/yi-ahm/
MLA: "Yi Ahm." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/yi-ahm/.
Chicago: "Yi Ahm." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/yi-ahm/.
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