Man carrying water, Korea, 1901

Strength in motion — a quiet tribute to the laborers of old Korea.
This fine art reproduction captures a powerful moment from 1901: a man balancing heavy wooden buckets of water across his shoulders, walking with quiet resolve through a Korean street. A portrait of daily effort and enduring tradition.

Details

• Museum-quality fine art print on premium archival paper
• Faithful reproduction of a hand-colored photograph from early 20th-century Korea
• A genuine piece of visual history
• Available in multiple sizes to suit your space

About the artwork

This sepia-toned photograph, taken in 1901, shows a Korean man carrying two large wooden buckets suspended from a shoulder yoke (jigae or mokbal), an essential tool used for centuries in Korea. His posture, slightly bent forward, reflects the physical demands of this daily task.

He wears a practical version of the hanbok, with loose baji pants and a jeogori tunic, along with a cloth headband to manage sweat. His sangtu (topknot) hairstyle marks him as a man of the era — standing at the crossroads of the late Joseon Dynasty and the emerging Korean Empire.

Behind him, the stone-and-brick walls evoke the architecture of traditional Korean neighborhoods or palace complexes. This image offers a rare and authentic glimpse into the labor, resourcefulness, and quiet dignity of those who sustained everyday life before modern infrastructure.