Vintage: Life in Sweden by Oskar Jarén (1910s-1920s)

Vintage: Life in Sweden by Oskar Jarén (1910s-1920s)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

Oskar Jarén was born in Kasper Borg Frinnaryd in 1877 and died in his hometown in 1954. In 1960s all of his 2,000 glass plates were rescued from oblivion with the help of Frinnaryds photoclub. This collection documents daily life in Sweden from between the 1910s and 1920s.

Woman with horse.

Woman with horse.

Goat standing on its hind legs.

Goat standing on its hind legs.

Photo, from about 1915-20, was taken in the property Sanna Frinnaryds station community. There, Anders Johan Satisfaction (b. 1862, left in the photo) started a shoemaking around 1900. Pictured on the right is son Ernst Satisfaction (b. 1890), who was also a shoemaker.

Photo, from about 1915-20, was taken in the property Sanna Frinnaryds station community. There, Anders Johan Satisfaction (b. 1862, left in the photo) started a shoemaking around 1900. Pictured on the right is son Ernst Satisfaction (b. 1890), who was also a shoemaker.

Strengthening collar, 1915.

Strengthening collar, 1915.

Photo from around 1925. Ebba Gustafsson (b. 1903) pats laundry and youngest sister Elin (b. 1918) stands next to it.

Photo from around 1925. Ebba Gustafsson (b. 1903) pats laundry and youngest sister Elin (b. 1918) stands next to it.

Little girl in the cherry tree, 1912.

Little girl in the cherry tree, 1912.

Skinnberedning at Frinnaryds tannery. In this photo from Frinnaryd tannery (started 1890), here are tanners KA Lundberg (1853 - 1935) and his son Eric (b. 1886).

Skinnberedning at Frinnaryds tannery. In this photo from Frinnaryd tannery (started 1890), here are tanners KA Lundberg (1853 – 1935) and his son Eric (b. 1886).

The woman at the sewing machine is Emelie Castensson (born 1854), who married with a slipper-maker Johan Andersson. The couple lived here when the picture was taken in Vagnsvik, Frinnaryd.

The woman at the sewing machine is Emelie Castensson (born 1854), who married with a slipper-maker Johan Andersson. The couple lived here when the picture was taken in Vagnsvik, Frinnaryd.

Hilma Gustafsson heckle flax at the cabin end. She represents one of favorite environments. From there are many lovingly and painstakingly rendered images that describes key elements of the work on a farm like that a hundred years ago.

Hilma Gustafsson heckle flax at the cabin end. She represents one of favorite environments. From there are many lovingly and painstakingly rendered images that describes key elements of the work on a farm like that a hundred years ago.

Two children outside the greenhouse.

Two children outside the greenhouse.

Two men on the sofa.

Two men on the sofa.

Three happy women sitting on the grass.

Three happy women sitting on the grass.

Girl walking with her doll.

Girl walking with her doll.

Kyrkvaktmästare August Käl and his wife from Liljeholmen

Kyrkvaktmästare August Käl and his wife from Liljeholmen

Woman sitting in the woods.

Woman sitting in the woods.

Family gathered on the bench.

Family gathered on the bench.

Two men with an accordion.

Two men with an accordion.

The picture is taken in Härje City at Stjärneborg, Lommaryds parish, ca. 1915. The cottage was a so-called double cabin for two families.

The picture is taken in Härje City at Stjärneborg, Lommaryds parish, ca. 1915. The cottage was a so-called double cabin for two families.

Elegant young man - Painter, Karl Svensson, with the revolver.

Elegant young man – Painter, Karl Svensson, with the revolver.

Break on the grass. The woman on the left is the school teacher's daughter Carola Aurell.

Break on the grass. The woman on the left is the school teacher’s daughter Carola Aurell.

In this photo, at the back of the sledge is Elin Larsson Tingersten (b. 1902) from Arla in Frinnaryd and her younger sister Svea (b. 1909). The girls were daughters of Crown hunters Larsson.

In this photo, at the back of the sledge is Elin Larsson Tingersten (b. 1902) from Arla in Frinnaryd and her younger sister Svea (b. 1909). The girls were daughters of Crown hunters Larsson.

The potter's wheel Erik Söderholm (b. 1884) in Söderholms pottery, Frinnaryd, 1915.

The potter’s wheel Erik Söderholm (b. 1884) in Söderholms pottery, Frinnaryd, 1915.

Gunnar Fransson and Alva. The two were not siblings or spouses.

Gunnar Fransson and Alva. The two were not siblings or spouses.

Two women and a girl in front their cottage in Sjöstugan, 1912.

Two women and a girl in front their cottage in Sjöstugan, 1912.

The siblings Carola and Henning Aurell photographed at his home in Frinnaryds, 1913.

The siblings Carola and Henning Aurell photographed at his home in Frinnaryds, 1913.

via JÖNKÖPINGS LÄNS MUSEUM


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025