Ahead of Buddha's Birthday, an image of the Pensive Bodhisattva has been reissued using modern intaglio printing technology, the same technique employed to produce currency.
The National Museum Foundation of Korea, led by President Jung Yong-seok, said it will unveil the "Pensive Bodhisattva Intaglio Print," developed in collaboration with the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO), on May 21. The work depicts the more popular of the two National Treasure Pensive Bodhisattva statues held by the National Museum of Korea—the "Pensive Bodhisattva with Three-Mountain Crown" (formerly designated National Treasure No. 83).
The release marks the third collaborative series from the foundation and KOMSCO, following the "Inwangjesaekdo Intaglio Print" and the "Maengho-do Intaglio Print."
The product reinterprets the Pensive Bodhisattva through modern intaglio printing technology. By rendering the statue's signature serene smile and the aesthetic of deep contemplation through precise dots and lines, the work captures both the dignity of Korea's cultural heritage and the delicate craftsmanship of currency manufacturing.
The "Pensive Bodhisattva Intaglio Print" comes in four sizes: large (405x641mm), medium (282x447mm), small A (195x306mm), and small B (442x546mm). A total of 1,750 copies will be produced—250 large prints and 500 each of the medium and small versions. The large and medium prints feature the autograph and serial number of currency engraver Shin In-cheol, enhancing their collectible value.
Intaglio printing is an advanced technique that composes images using only dots and lines. In Korea, only KOMSCO possesses the specialized technology to execute it. Produced through an engraved method, the image appears in relief, with a distinctive textured surface that creates a three-dimensional visual effect.
The "Pensive Bodhisattva Intaglio Print" will be available for pre-order starting May 21 through the MUDS online store and KOMSCO's online shopping mall, with deliveries to be made sequentially from June. The actual prints can also be viewed in person at the National Museum of Korea store in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
