근대시기 대구문인화단大邱文人畵壇의 개조開祖 석재 석병오는 《교남시서화연구회嶠南詩書畵硏究會》(1922년)을 창설하여 대구를 중심으로 문인회의 기반을 세웠다. 그는 글씨와 사군자화를 주로 하였으며, 그 중에서도 묵죽화가 뛰어났다. 서병오는 당시 서울 중앙의 전통화단이 화려한 색채나 세부적 묘사에 치중하는 일본적 화풍으로 흐르는 것을 배격하고 전통 수묵 사군자화를 통해 일제 강점 하에 군자정신·민족정신을 심어주었다. 서병오는 이정(李霆, 1541-1626) → 유덕장(柳德章, 1675-1756) → 신위(申緯, 1769-1847)로 이어지는 전통 묵죽화를 계승하면서도 10여 년간 중국 주유를 통해 ‘해상화파’의 새로운 근대적 양식을 수용하여 농묵에 의거한 호방하고 활달함이 넘치는 ‘석재풍’의 묵죽화를 창출했다. 이러한 그의 ‘석재풍’ 문인화는 《교남시서화연구회》를 통해 대구·경북뿐만 아니라 전국으로 확장되었으며, 세자 배효원·김진만·서동균 등으로 이어져 내려오면서 대구를 중심으로 하는 ‘영남문인화맥’을 형성하였다. 이와 같이 석재 서병오가 대구미술사에 끼친 영향은 실로 크다. 따라서 ‘서병오와 근대영남문인화 형성’에 관한 연구는 곧 대구 미술사의 위상을 확립하는 일이기도 하다.
Seok-jae Seo Byeong-O, originator of Daegu artistic circles of paintings in the literary artist’s style in the modern times, founded the “Kyonam Association for research on poems, paintings and calligraphic works(1922)" and established the foundation of paintings in the literary artist’s style centering around Daegu. He was engaged mostly in calligraphic works and four gracious plant paintings, and amongst them, he was outstanding in bamboo paintings in ink. Opposing the traditional painting circles of Seoul at that time inclining toward the Japanese style that lays emphasis on gorgeous color and detailed depiction, Seo Byeong-O instilled the spirit of man of virtue and national spirit under the Japanese imperial colonial period through traditional four gracious plant paintings in ink. While succeeding to the traditional bamboo paintings in ink connected to a succession of Lee Jeong( 1541-1626) Yu Deok → Jang(1675-1756) → Shin Wee(1769-1847), Seo Byeong-O created the bamboo paintings in ink in ‘Seok-jae style’, open-hearted and generous based on thick ink by accepting the new and modern style of the ‘Shanghai School’ at that time through his circular tour in China for more than 10 years. His paintings in the literary artist’s style as such in ‘Seok-jae style’ have expanded to the whole country as well as to Daegu, Gyeongbuk province through the “Kyonam Association for research on poems, paintings and calligraphic works” and formed the legacy of ‘paintings in the literary artist´s style in Yeongnam area’ centering around Daegu while handed down to his disciples like Bae Hyo-Won, Kim Jin-Man, Seo Dong-Gyoon, etc. Like this, the impact that Seok-jae Seo Byeong-O has affected on the art history of Daegu may be considered indeed great. Therefore, the research on ‘Seo Byeong-O and the formation of modern paintings in the literary artist´s style in Yeongnam area’ is also the work to establish the status of art history of Daegu at the same time.