Swedes

Our only color photo of the day is supposed to be two men

from a 1970s Swedish chemical decontamination unit.

 

Sweden Day

Today we have an all Swedish series, starting with a glacial valley lakeside scene.

Do you think the man in the background is trying to get our attention?

 

Text

My source only said this was from a textbook,

but anatomical or art anatomy seem likely.

 

Fridtjof Nansen

The top photo is a selfie by Swedish explorerer, scientist, and sportsman Fridtjof Nansen.

He sent it age age 67 to a lady he was trying to woo.  Below we see him at about age 30.

 

Shower

I don't have a date for this, but the plumbing looks 1930-40.

 

Fishermen

These three Swedes are demonstrating the best way to fish.

 

Mass swim

This large group of swimmers is a Swedish military unit.

 

1913

Here we see Sweden's combined swimming and water polo national team from 1913.

 

Relaxing

This is how Swedish men relax in the sauna.

 

Polar Bear

This brave polar bear had his picture taken in January 1902

at one of Stockholm's floating bath houses.

 

Horsemen

Closing the Swedish series with a group of cavalrymen I borrowed from Bob's Naked Guys.

Bob is not actively posting, but you can still visit at:

https://bobsnakedguys.blogspot.com/

 

Mr. Redwood

Swedish studio Foto Grafo was the origin of this shot of Dick Redwood.

 

Swedes

Ending the set with two burly Swedish water polo players who look like brothers.

 

1903 Swedes

My source says these are Swedes from 1903.

 

Swedes

These fellows are supposed to be Swedes at a 1980-ish chemical decontamination drill.

 

National Museum of Sweden, Part 1 - Eugene Jansson

Our first stop was Stockholm, mainly because it was the least expensive city to fly into.  (No one will call it the least expensive city for any other reason.)  The Nationalmuseum Sveriga or Swedish National Museum is a must on any art lover's list.  Their diverse collection prompted me to do a three part series on my visit there.  We start with someone whose work you have seen here before, Eugene Jansson, and his self portrait at the Floating Bath House.  Click on his label below or in the right hand column for more of his work and some biographical info.

 

Athletes

Here we see Athletes from 1912.

 

Early self portrait

This early Eugene Jansson self portrait was in a stray corner of the museum.

 

National Museum of Sweden, Part 2 - The Sculpture Collection

  

The scupture collection at the National Museum in Stockholm isn't as big as many in Europe, but it makes up in quality what it might lack in quantity.  Above is Apollo Kitharoidos from 1838 by Bengt Erland Fogelberg, 1785-1854.  There are more works by Fogelberg in the collection than any other artist, including his mentor Johan Sergel whose work will also appear here today.

 

Diomedes

This is Diomedes by Swedish sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel, 1740-1814.  Although his works in the National Museum are nearly all Classical in theme, his bronzes of Swedish monarchs and notables decorate several public spaces in and around Stockholm, including a city square named for him.