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Artists in the Choson royal painting academy were called upon to produce paintings for presentation to foreign envoys or the courts of neighboring countries and paintings to commemorate such events as coronations, military processions, and ceremonies.

Han Si-gak (b. 1621), an instructor in the academy, was known primarily as a figure painter but also proved an able landscapist. The subject of this painting is an examination for government service held in Hamgyong Province. In one section of the scroll, military candidates participate in a mounted archery exam.A raised red flag indicates a candidate has hit the first of his targets; judges, attendants, and other competitors await his next shot.Written records of the events follow the pictorial record.