Royal Photographers
– Snapshots from 1890 to 1990

Snapshots capture the many events of our everyday lives, from the recording of a child’s first steps, or siblings enjoying each other’s company, to a decisive moment in a skiing competition, or simply a fishing trip. The term was first used in 1860 by chemist and photographer Sir John Herschel, who wrote in The Photographic News that soon, it would be possible to take “[…] a photograph, as it were, by a snapshot – of securinga picture in a tenth of a second of time”. This proved to be true. The cameras in use by the late 19th century were smaller and easier to handle, and boasted faster shutter speeds. Continuous advances in film chemistry, such as the transition from glass negatives to less fiddly film rolls also made photography a less complicated affair. Given that it was now much easier to quickly grab one’s camera, it was all the more possible for a photographer to capture these snapshots – an event, a moment, a movement, or even a loving glance.

The timeframe covered by the Royal Photographers exhibition ranges from the reign of Queen Maud and King Haakon to that of Queen Sonja and King Harald and shows moments captured with “point-and-shoot” cameras. These photos offer us glimpses of personal moments in the lives of the Norwegian royal family. However, through the collection, the viewer can also recognise a common culture. Many of the photos portray the royals on holidays and trips, the very same moments we tend to pull our cameras out and take a few photos – they, too, depict family relationships, childhood memories, Easter holidays spent at the cabin and in the mountains,and summer days enjoyed by the sea.

The photos taken by the royal family themselves may look like those taken by any other family, yet they differ significantly. The moments they share as a family are not private, like those of other people, rather theirs become part of Norwegian history.

(From the catalogue introduction)

Published for the exhibition
Royal Photographers – Snapshots from 1890 to 1990

16 February 2024–19 January 2025
Queen Sonja Art Stable

The design project includes a catalogue as well as promotional material and ads.

The Royal Collections
The Royal Court

© Det kongelige hoff/The Royal Court 2024
ISBN 978-82-8106-044-9
2024
20 x 25 cm
152 pages
Language: Norwegian/English

Curators of the exhibition and editors of the catalogue:
Sandra Lorentzen, Øivind Möller Bakken, Ingeborg Lønning

Texts by:
H.M. Queen Sonja
Gunhild Varvin
Sandra Lorentzen
Øivind Möller Bakken
Ingeborg Lønning
Marie Fongaard Seim
Hege Oulie
Anja Hysvær Langgåt

Proofreading and translation:
Totaltekst

Design: Halvor Bodin
Repro: Øivind Möller Bakken/Halvor Bodin
Printer: TS Trykk, Oslo
Bookbinder: Bokbinderiet Johnsen
Typography: ABC Arizona
Paper: MultiArt Silk, 170 g/m²
Paper, cover: Algro Design Advanced, 350 g/m²

Royal photographers:
Dronning Alexandra (1844–1925)
Kong Haakon (1872–1957)
Dronning Maud (1869–1938)
Prinsesse Victoria (1868–1935)
Kong Olav (1903–1991)
Kronprinsesse Märtha (1901–1954)
Kong Harald (1937– )
Dronning Sonja (1937– )
Kronprins Haakon (1973– )