Einar Erici worked as a skilled amateur photographer during the 1930s. He traveled across Sweden to document the country and its inhabitants. While he spent much of his time photographing church organs for his scientific research, he also focused on the faces of ordinary citizens. Most of these portraits come from his trips through the provinces of Gotland and Uppland. He captured these images during the first half of the 20th century.
The most common subjects in Erici’s portraits are older men with long beards. These men represent the working class of 1930s Sweden. They stand still for the camera and look directly at the lens with serious expressions. Their facial hair is a major feature of their physical appearance. Erici chose to photograph these individuals because they showed the traditional character of rural life.
Erici did not only take formal portraits. He photographed people while they performed their daily chores and hobbies. One man sits in his workshop making shoes with hand tools. Another man spends his afternoon working in his garden with a shovel. Some subjects play the guitar to pass the time in their living rooms. These photos provide a clear record of how people spent their energy and time at home. The tools and instruments in the photos are authentic to the era.
The photographs often include the wives and families of the men. These groups pose in front of their houses or inside their kitchens. Erici included the homes to show the exact living conditions of the time. The buildings in Gotland and Uppland serve as the background for these family scenes. The wooden structures and simple furniture define the visual space of the era.
