A Yangban- Korean Official

A variant or more specifically titled version of Hasui's yangban figure study, this print identifies the subject as a Korean official, clarifying the subject's administrative as well as social standing within the Joseon-era class hierarchy. The yangban class in Korea held both scholarly and official functions, and the costume depicted would reflect formal dress: the white durumagi outer coat, black gat hat, and potentially official insignia or accessories depending on context. Hasui's Korean figure prints were published as part of the documented travel series following his 1919 visit to the peninsula. As figure studies rather than landscapes, these works are less typical of Hasui's main output and demonstrate his range as an observer of human subjects. The compositions likely isolate the figure against a plain or lightly suggested background to focus attention on the ethnographic detail of dress and bearing.