"Offers penetrating analyses of the paintings of the period by foregrounding sociological and cultural aspects of the time. . . . Including appropriate illustrations, notes, and a glossary, this is a good source for specialists interested in this relatively brief historical era."(Choice) "Richly detailed, comprehensively resourced, and meticulously researched . . . call[s] into question existing narratives on Chosŏn painting by reading artworks in consideration of their collective agency and their roles in negotiating values, taste, and status at a critical historical juncture. [A New Middle Kingdom] will hence contribute significantly to the literature and ultimately enrich scholarly discussion of early modernity in East Asia."(Journal of Asian Studies) "Questioning standard paradigms in the field and investigating unexplored issues, Park discusses in detail the roles of societal transformation, political ideology, and historical conflict in the making of paintings and the formation of visual culture...The wealth of material and the comprehensive coverage make this an absorbing book...a highly articulate, impressive study."(The Art Bulletin)
