This is a comment I had saved up a while back but I didn't keep up with it chapter by chapter, so I'll just summarize it from where I left on till the end since I finally decided to finish reading this. Yay, congrats me! And congrats to the author for completing it.
It's slow paced, tragical, history based and the mystery element is low. The psychological explanation would be interesting if it shows up in the following chapters about how one got into sodomy (Seungho, a young nobleman) and how the other got into painting these acts (Na-kyum). There are many cruel scenes including rape, gang rape, abuse, psychological manipulation, gaslighting, imprisonment and so much more.
The history aspects in this from the drawings to the story itself were spectacular. Definitely a 10/10 rating on that aspect.
I have mixed feelings about chapter 41. I mean Na-kyum's teacher is an asshat. and that sentence at the end of the previous chapter pulled at my heart strings. Its obvious the young painter picked the wrong way to cope with the sadness fueling his heart by asking for sex in hopes of forgetting everything weighting down on him. Seungho is still the same person like always; cold, absolute and ready to hit him at the first slip up. Though that is the case, he seems intrigued by Na-kyum's behavior and demands through his fierce attitude an explanation.
The learned one isn't as innocent and straightforward as we thought he was. He seems like a snake that wants to use his student to climb up the ladder even if it means his student has to sleep with Seungho. Upon realizing Seungho's interest towards Na-kyum; he uses him.
Chapter 46; wanting to leave but having nowhere else to go. That realizing must have downed on Na-kyum for good now. He really has nowhere else to go and the attitude he will keep receiving won't be good but at least he has a place to sleep and eat, even under these circumstances.
Chapter 47; ''Little Whore'' he was called by the stuff in the residence. There are always a few jealous working people here and there, no biggie, nothing. But, that doesn't mean these words don't sting.
Chapter 48; One of the reasons Seungho is so attracted to Na-kyum -after painting of course- is that Na-kyum hasn't been honest or clear in his honest, thus making Seungho want to learn more about this strange behavior.
Chapter 49; Seems like Na-kyum has surrendered to what he seems to be his fate, being used for sex in order to have a roof over his head and food.
Chapter 52; the way the chapter ended seems to me like Seungho will regret saying that and sharing the lowborn with all others in sexual activities. Its like he is trying to prove something to others and to himself and I believe he will fail doing so. Na-kyum as well; he seemed to have forgotten who his master really was till reality kicked in and he show him kiss one of the others.
Chapter 53; there is one basic element here that has been said to us but only showed once and that was how possessive Seungho is about the paintings. This chapter has been like a revelation from a third party and explained and showed all at once. Such a serious scene for our both leads and it was quick paced. That took a bit away of the progress we could have seen.
Moving on in the next chapters we see the realization of what they feel and how they try to deny parts of it and still while that hasn't cleared up yet, an illness is brought up and the lousy attempt of Jinhwa to get the master to look his way. At this point, things will start getting more interesting and we will see how far Seungho's obsessiveness will take him and the point of madness he will reach. Na-kyum is always afraid, from start till now, he has never been brave. He had only closed his feelings off cause of the Learned one and started feeling again with Seungho who is making him sad again. He should have been his safe haven after what he went through, and instead of that he is his downfall.
The painter's noona; why did she look for him after so long? And who knows what she's been through being a kisaeng for so long that she said these words to him? I'm sure the painter is thinking of her words but nothing will change what he's already feeling. Seungho asking Na-kyum to not push him away, was a nice touch. His feelings are coming through more clear now.
After what felt like an era of abuse etc, we finally see some development romantically wise but it just felt like a torture-porn through and through. And that's Stockholm Syndrome, not love, my sweet Na-kyum. Power dynamics wise, we can say that power doesn’t always corrupt but it reveals what's hidden. This aspect was also clearly shown.
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