[2][3][4] The works of Khrua In Khong served under the king's desire to modernize Thailand in order to survive the Western colonialist aspiration.
He was born in Bang Chan, Phetchaburi province, Thailand in the reign of King Rama III.
[4] According to his sketchbook, he started drawing in a conventional Thai artistic style which puts much effort into an outline.
Khrua In Khong became a painter under the patronage of the king and was frequently ordered to paint murals in temples that he built or restored.
[2][6] It was mentioned in the royal chronicles “…the king demanded the service of Phra Achan In in Painting murals depicting the royal chronicles of the Bangkok period.” Khrua In Khong's early work was not yet departed from Thai traditional artistic motifs.
It required a high mental capability to understand the context of the Dharma, for example, the pictures of water lotuses in a pond, horse-racing, and a man pointing the way of virtue.
The king was concerned with the threat of European countries and urged to modernize Siam in a western way - both technologically and culturally, hence the works of Khrua In Khong were serving his demand.
The water waves were drawn as overlapping fish scales, the trees look artificial and the figures stood in unnatural poses.
Khrua In Khong, however, still remained using low saturation, bright objects among dimmed gray and dark background colors.
He painted the background with dark colors, male outfits with dark blue and white, while female dresses were light blue or pink making the figures look soft and gentle among shady background that appears like a dreamy landscape.
[3][9][10] Despite the fact that he departed from traditional Thai painting style, the works of Khrua In Khong were still mostly related to Buddhism since he himself stayed in the monkhood for life.
They were also important as historical records of political events and social conditions during the reign of King Rama III.