It was in his landscape paintings that Kim first excelled. Following a trend that had begun to develop in Korea in the previous century, he depicted the real world of nature. Going further in this trend than most other artists, he developed an interest in the life of people within natural settings. He became a pioneer to extensively portray Korean daily life, in a manner analogous to the Dutch Masters. Today his paintings are valued almost as much for the insight they shed on daily life in Joseon as for their inherent aesthetic value. His paintings of commoners often suggest his critical view toward the upper class, best demonstrated in his harvest scenes, in which hardworking farmers are shown in contrast to the lazy landowner.e rulers who encouraged economic, social and political stability.