Lotten von Düben facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lotten von Düben
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Lotten von Düben with her husband Gustaf, ca. 1860
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| Born |
Carolina Charlotta Mariana von Bahr
23 November 1828 |
| Died | 25 December 1915 Södermanland, Sweden
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| Occupation | Photographer |
| Spouse(s) | Gustaf von Düben |
| Parents |
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Lotten von Düben (born Carolina Charlotta Mariana von Bahr on November 23, 1828, died December 25, 1915) was a Swedish photographer. She was one of the first people to take photos just for fun, not as a job. She also helped create a new way of taking pictures called "reportage" and "documentary photography." This means she took photos to tell a story or show real life. Her pictures are a big part of Sweden's photography history. She is especially famous for her photos of the Sami people.
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Her Early Life
Lotten von Düben was born on November 23, 1828. She was the third of six children. Her family, the von Bahrs, were from Uppland, Sweden. Her father, Robert von Bahr, was a major. Her mother, Eva Carolina Åkerhielm af Margretelund, was a Baroness. Both of her parents came from important families. Lotten grew up in two places: Söderby and Margretelund.
A Pioneer Photographer
Lotten von Düben became a photographer at a time when it was still quite new. She didn't just take pictures in a studio. She went out into the world to capture real life.
Capturing the Sami People
In 1868, Lotten's husband, Gustaf von Düben, started a project. He wanted to study the skulls of the Sami people. Lotten took photographs to help with his project. She probably learned some photography tips from Carl Curman. He had a photo studio in the same building where the von Dübens lived.
Lotten also took many photos of the beautiful Swedish mountains and waterfalls. She captured these scenes during her trips to Lapland. Unlike other photographers of her time, she took these pictures for herself. She didn't plan to sell them. Her portraits of the Sami people were special. She photographed them outdoors, in their natural homes. This was different from taking pictures in a studio.
Lotten von Düben's photographs are very important. They show a key part of Swedish photography history. Her work, along with that of other photographers like Bertha Valerius and Rosalie Sjöman, helped shape how photography developed in Sweden.
Adventures in Lapland
On July 3, 1868, Lotten and Gustaf von Düben began an exciting journey. They left Stockholm by ship for their first trip to Lapland. They wanted to study the Sami people. They brought an assistant, G. H. Santesson, and a cook, Johanna Björklund.
They also brought all their heavy photography gear. This included special chemicals to make "iodinated collodion negatives." These were glass plates used to capture images. Lotten used a special camera called a stereo camera. She photographed the Sami people from the front, then from the side. This helped them study their features.
In 1871, they went back to Lapland. This time, they had two cameras! To share what they learned, Gustaf von Düben published a book in 1873. It was called Om Lappland och Lapparne, företrädesvis de Svenske: Ethnografiska Studier af Gustaf von Düben. Lotten's amazing photographs illustrated the book.
Her Family Life
In 1857, Lotten married Baron Gustaf von Düben. He was a member of the Düben family. Gustaf was a doctor and a professor. He taught about how diseases affect the body at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Lotten von Düben passed away on December 25, 1915, in Nysund.
Amazing Photos
The pictures below are all portraits of Sami people. Lotten von Düben took these photos:
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Nicka Gruvvisare, age 64, Sirkas (1868)
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Amma Pirkit Larsson, Tuorpon (1868)
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Nils Granström's wife, Tuorpon (1868)
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Elsa Nilsdotter Länta, age 35, Sirka (1868)
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Per Pålsson Sjålsa, age 60, Sjokksjokk (1868)
Learn More
- Düben family
- History of photography
- Sámi history
