Kang Se-hwang (1713-1791) was a renowned painter, writer, and government official, as well as one of the leading figures of Joseon’s artistic milieu during the 18th century. Including this example, eight portraits of Kang Se-hwang have survived to the present. This three-dimensional portrayal with clearly defined facial wrinkles and drapery expressed using chiaroscuro has been widely praised for its technical excellence and realistic expression. This is the only frontal portrait among the eight extant portraits of Kang Sehwang. While it is difficult to highlight the volume of a face from the front, the painter successfully created three-dimensional effects in the nose and cheekbones by shading. In his writing, Kang Sehwang said that some people disdained him for his rather poor appearance, but he could ignore them with a smile since he was confident in his virtuous spirit and deep knowledge.