Anders Beer Wilse
Encyclopedia
Anders Beer Wilse was a Norwegian
photographer whose photography visually documented Norway in the early to mid-20th century.
Wilse was born in Flekkefjord
, but grew up in Kragerø
and decided early to become a sailor. After having graduated with a technical degree from the technical school in Horten
in 1882, he emigrated to the United States
in 1884. He did not find work in the beginning, but eventually settled in Seattle working for the United States Geological Survey
. He is reported to have acquired his first camera in 1886. He opened a photography store in Seattle in 1897, after having visited Norway and married Helen Marie Hutchinson. In 1900, his wife and children moved to Norway, and Wilse himself joined them, opening a photography store in Christiania
in 1901, after 17 years in the United States.
Wilse traveled extensively in Norway, both on assignment and for his own interest. He brought his 10 kg camera to inaccessible places through rugged terrain, going as far north as Svalbard
. He photographed both natural sceneries and people at work, including the fishing industry in Lofoten
before the introduction of motorized boats. His photography business was also a commercial success, and he acquired among other things the entire archive of Axel Lindahl
, who had photographed scenes in Norway in the 1880s and 1890s.
Most of his negatives are now preserved at museums, including Norsk Folkemuseum
, where more than 100,000 sceneries and ethnological images are held, Oslo Bymuseum for images related to the history of Oslo, the National Library of Norway for portrait photography, and the Norwegian Maritime Museum
for maritime photographs. These images are being scanned digitally, and many are available online.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
photographer whose photography visually documented Norway in the early to mid-20th century.
Wilse was born in Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
, but grew up in Kragerø
Kragerø
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
and decided early to become a sailor. After having graduated with a technical degree from the technical school in Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
in 1882, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1884. He did not find work in the beginning, but eventually settled in Seattle working for the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
. He is reported to have acquired his first camera in 1886. He opened a photography store in Seattle in 1897, after having visited Norway and married Helen Marie Hutchinson. In 1900, his wife and children moved to Norway, and Wilse himself joined them, opening a photography store in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1901, after 17 years in the United States.
Wilse traveled extensively in Norway, both on assignment and for his own interest. He brought his 10 kg camera to inaccessible places through rugged terrain, going as far north as Svalbard
Svalbard
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the...
. He photographed both natural sceneries and people at work, including the fishing industry in Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
before the introduction of motorized boats. His photography business was also a commercial success, and he acquired among other things the entire archive of Axel Lindahl
Axel Lindahl
Axel Theodor Lindahl was a Swedish photographer notable for his early photography of Norwegian landscapes.Lindahl was born in Mariestad in southwestern Sweden. With his brother Udo he opened his own photography studio in Uddevalla in 1865; within one year, his work was exhibited in museums. By...
, who had photographed scenes in Norway in the 1880s and 1890s.
Most of his negatives are now preserved at museums, including Norsk Folkemuseum
Norsk Folkemuseum
Norsk Folkemuseum, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy in Oslo, is a large open air museum. Norsk Folkemuseum is one of Norway’s largest museum of cultural history....
, where more than 100,000 sceneries and ethnological images are held, Oslo Bymuseum for images related to the history of Oslo, the National Library of Norway for portrait photography, and the Norwegian Maritime Museum
Norwegian Maritime Museum
The Norwegian Maritime Museum , previously known as the Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum, founded in 1914, is located at Bygdøynesveien on the Bygdøy peninsula, on the western side of Oslo, Norway....
for maritime photographs. These images are being scanned digitally, and many are available online.
External links
- Galleri Nor image library
- Guide to the Anders Beer Wilse Photographs at the Museum of History & Industry, Seattle Guide to a collection of photographs by Wilse and the Seattle Photographic Company taken between 1892 and 1913, including images of Native Americans, Indian crafts, the Seattle Fire Department, and Seattle buildings, parks and waterfront.
- Guide to the Anders Beer Wilse Philippine American War Photo Album at the Museum of History & Industry, Seattle Guide to an album of photographs by Wilse, taken in August 1899, of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry in Seattle preparing to embark for the Philippines.