Vintage: Everyday Life in Norway (19th Century)

Vintage: Everyday Life in Norway (19th Century)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024

Life in Norway (especially economic life) was “dominated by the aristocracy of professional men who filled most of the important posts in the central government”. There was no strong bourgeosie class in Norway to demand a breakdown of this aristocratic control of the economy. Thus, even while revolution swept over most of the countries of Europe in 1848, Norway was largely unaffected by revolts that year.

Marcus Thrane was a Utopian socialist. He made his appeal to the labouring classes urging a change of social structure “from below upwards.” In 1848, he organised a labour society in Drammen. In just a few months, this society had a membership of 500 and was publishing its own newspaper. Within two years, 300 societies had been organised all over Norway, with a total membership of 20,000 persons. The membership was drawn from the lower classes of both urban and rural areas; for the first time these two groups felt they had a common cause. In the end, the revolt was easily crushed; Thrane was captured and in 1855, after four years in jail, was sentenced to three additional years for crimes against the safety of the state. Upon his release, Marcus Thrane attempted unsuccessfully to revitalise his movement, but after the death of his wife, he migrated to the United States.

Bryggen in Bregen

Bryggen in Bregen, 1890s

Farmhouse in Odda, Hordaland

Farmhouse in Odda, Hordaland, 1890s

Fjærland in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane

Fjærland in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, 1890s

Geirangerfjord

Geirangerfjord, 1890s

Hammerfest in Finnmarken

Hammerfest in Finnmarken, 1890s

Luster, Sogn og Fjordane

Luster, Sogn og Fjordane, 1890s

Molde, Norway

Molde, Norway, 1890s

Bryggen in Bregen

Bryggen in Bregen, 1890s

Norangsdal near Haugen, Norway

Norangsdal near Haugen, Norway, 1890s

Odda, Norway

Odda, Norway, 1890s

Raftsundet in Lofoten, Nordland

Raftsundet in Lofoten, Nordland, 1890s

Road in Tromso

Road in Tromso, 1890s

Romsdalen valley, Norway

Romsdalen valley, Norway, 1890s

Seven Sisters waterfall in the Geirangerfjord

Seven Sisters waterfall in the Geirangerfjord, 1890s

Bryggen in Bregen

Bryggen in Bregen, 1890s

The Grand Hotel in Oslo

The Grand Hotel in Oslo, 1890s

The Hardangerfjord in Norway

The Hardangerfjord in Norway, 1890s

The Hardangerfjord in Norway

The Hardangerfjord in Norway, 1890s

Torgallmenningen in Bregen

Torgallmenningen in Bregen, 1890s

Tromso, Norway

Tromso, Norway, 1890s

Woman on a horse-drawn carriage in the Hardangerfjord

Woman on a horse-drawn carriage in the Hardangerfjord, 1890s

Young ladies of the Hardangerfjord

Young ladies of the Hardangerfjord, 1890s

Country road in Jostedalen, Sogn og Fjordane

Country road in Jostedalen, Sogn og Fjordane, 1890s

via BSMK1SV


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024