A Study on the 19th-Century Depiction of Parallel Projection in Donggwoldo

A late Joseon-era documentary painting, Donggwoldo, reveals that 19th-century depictions of Changdeokgung Palace and its adjacent structures were not merely accurate representations but rather conceptual reconstructions aimed at reflecting architectural ideology. The study demonstrates that while the painting adheres to traditional Joseon artistic techniques and uses parallel projection for a multi-perspective spatial structure, it selectively magnifies or scales down buildings to achieve near-ideal forms of palatial architecture. This approach transcends practical documentation, suggesting a focus on ideological representation over physical accuracy.

Kim, H.-J. (2014). A Study on the 19th-Century Depiction of Parallel Projection in Donggwoldo. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 13(2), 263–270. https://doi.org/10.3130/jaabe.13.263