A painting by prominent Korean artist Park Soo-keun will be put up for auction at the Important Two Day Auction by John McInnis Auctioneers in Ogunquit, Maine, on July 16 and 17.

The painting “A Seated Woman,” with Park’s name signed in Hangeul and dated 1956 on the back, retains the original frame and paper label.

The original owner was Alva Gimbel, a supporter of Dr. Howard Rusk who often traveled to Korea during the Korean War for medical missions between 1953 and 1967. 

Known as the father of rehabilitation medicine, Rusk was elected president of the American Korean Foundation in 1954 and founded the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New York University Medical Center, which was renamed the Howard H. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1984. He was supported by several prominent individuals including Gimbel in his humanitarian efforts.

Gimbel assisted Rusk on one of his trips to Seoul where she acquired “A Seated Woman.” The painting has been kept with a family member and has never been out of the family since it was acquired in the 1950s.

The painting is in its original, untouched condition and it is estimated it will sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

The auction house had sold another of Park’s paintings, of a seated woman contemplating a bowl, in October 2008. The 1956 painting was sold for $460,000.

Next week’s auction will also feature other items of fine art, a large collection of Asian and Japanese antiquities, jewelry and furniture.

For more information, visit www.mcinnisauctions.com 


By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)