The last Emperor of Korea

Visit to the Land of Morning Calm

portrait

Archive

Accession Nr.: A.4760.2.21.4.
Type: photograph
Artist/Maker:
Date of production:
1907
Place of production:
Acquisition: collection of Dezső Bozóky
Materials/Techniques: gelatin silver print
Dimensions: height: 14.2 cm
width: 9.8 cm
The album containing Dezső Bozóky's travelphotos (second). Related item: A.4760.2. (album). Unknown photographer. Photograph purchased by Dezső Bozóky. Sunjong (1874–1926), the last emperor of the Joseon dynasty, at age 33, in full dress as the head of state of the Empire of the Great Han. After his father was coerced by the Japanese to abdicate, the young emperor chose, as it was customary, a new name for his reign, calling it Yunghui (Noble Splendour), following his father’s Gwangmu (Glorious Military). Daehan Jeguk (The Great Korean Empire), whose imperial full dress the monarch is wearing in this portrait had been proclaimed ten years before. Reminiscent of a Prussian uniform, it
was introduced, complete with the decorations, by Sunjong’s father, Emperor Gojong. A picture postcard based on the portrait is held at
Cornell University Library, cf.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cornelluniversitylibrary/4095402629/ (last retrieved: 24 August, 2019).