Found in the 1980s, John Alinder’s glass-plate portraits of his Swedish neighbours in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s show us people in their in their homes and gardens. Self-taught, Alinder developed thousands of pictures in his own small darkroom. He placed the negatives in direct contact with a special photographic paper in a frame under glass and exposed them to sunlight to create the prints. The results are startling. The subjects look at the camera, as if seeing us.
Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1918–35
Rut Johanson from Västerås “in front of the fund”, Sävasta, Altuna parish, Uppland 1926
Alinder never moved away from the village of his birth, remaining in Sävasta in Uppland, a province in eastern central Sweden, where his family had been farmers. At various point in his life, he sold music – he held the Swedish agency for the British gramophone brand His Master’s Voice – ran a rural shop from his home, and operated an illegal bar.
Tora, August, Tore and Karolina Alinder, Sävasta, Altuna parish, Uppland 1926
Teres Karlinder holds a bread cake in front of the dog, Drävle, Altuna parish, Uppland 1908
Eva Erikson with friend, Högsberga, Altuna parish, Uppland 1923
Karin Arnell and Tora Alinder double plate “in Mälby atrium, Frösthult parish, Uppland 1923
Pastor Magnusson with confirmands outside Altuna church, Uppland 1925
Edvin Pettersson and Olle Torsmark in the garden, Nibble, Torstuna parish, Uppland
Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1910–20
Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1910–20
Miss Linnea Ekenberg and Emil Johanson, Tibble Torstunaby, Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1919
Stråle’s dog sitting with eyeglasses, Kaby, Simtuna parish, 1922
Painters Lindgren and Torell, Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1919
Siri Johanson in confirmation attire, Kotte, Altuna parish, 1931
Agnes Johansson (right) and friend, Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1910–20
Ljung’s daughter standing by herself on a chair, Torstunaby, Torstuna parish, 1920
Major Alström’s wife with the owl, Göksbo, Altuna parish, 1932
Sävasta, Altuna parish, 1910–20
Self Portrait, John Alinder in his garden, 1910–20
John Alinder: Portraits 1910-1932 is out this month. The first major exhibition of his work is showing at Landskrona Foto, Sweden. All photographs: John Alinder/Upplandsmuseet Sweden/Dewi Lewis Publishing
More John Alinder portraits can be seen at the Upplands Museum.
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