Twee mannen met rendierslee in klederdracht uit Åsele, Sápmi (Lapland), Zweden 1867 - 1883

This small photograph, made by Eurenius & Quist, depicts two men with a reindeer-pulled sled, dressed in traditional clothing from Åsele, Sápmi, in Sweden. The photograph itself is an albumen print, a process popular in the 19th century, prized for its fine detail and tonal range. The artists would have used the materials and processes of commercial photography to create a compelling image for a wide audience, from tourists to scholars. The addition of color by hand turns a reproducible image into a more individual artwork, and personalizes its relationship to the depicted landscape. The scene captures a way of life rooted in the natural world, with a focus on skilled practices. The artists skillfully capture the texture of fur clothing, the muscular reindeer, and the vast, snow-covered landscape. The image offers us an opportunity to think about the complex relationship between culture, craft, and the modern world, challenging our assumptions about the division between art, ethnography, and commerce.