The East of Finland in Photographs
ROOM I
An amusing and wistful story of people, nature and borders
The East of Finland in Photographs charts the ways in which photographers have seen the eastern parts of Finland and its people and have wanted to present them. The oldest photographs are from the 1860s and the latest ones are from the end of the 2010s. The photographs with their chronological span of one and a half centuries tell of the values, hopes and contradictions that have been associated with the east at various times.
Photographic technology was invented in the first half of the 19th century, coinciding with the emergence of nationalism. The core of Finnish identity began to be sought in the east, in the regions where the old Kalevala-type folk poetry was still a living tradition. Photography became an integral aspect of the new cultural appropriation and definition of the east. It made a world visible that have previously been only known through stories. Narration with pictures merged with learning, the spreading of information and remembrance. At the same time, photography created its own narrative that still influences the ways in which we perceive, experience and evaluate the physical and social reality of the east of Finland.
Photographs show the east as a land of blue-hued fells, large forests and bodies of water, where the landscapes and the character of the people gradually changes from south to north. The east has riches in store, but also poverty, and extreme sensitivity merges there with extreme tribulation. The heroes of the east are mythical characters: women weeping at graves, settlers, loggers, fortune-tellers, old women selling pasties, evacuee Karelian mothers, men in ragged clothing and the guards of the borders. The most durable photographs do not tell of the ordinary existence of majorities but instead highlight the margins where the ideas associated with the east are crystallised.
Although photographs are linked to the moment when they are made, their relationship with reality is complex and filtered. They are narrow cropped selections of blinks of the eye, often telling more about the photographer than the subject. Producing pictures and the ways in which they are used are the politics of photography. The imagery of the east of Finland reveals in what guises the east was needed at different times for constructing different identities and for influencing society and for political impact.
The East of Finland is a concept whose geographical location has varied over the course of history. In this book, the east is identified on the one hand with administrative boundaries and on the other hand with connections of culture, communications and trade. It consists of the eastern parts of independent Finland, which included Petsamo before the Second World War and Karelia, which was ceded to the Soviet Union after the war. The selection of images extends with a few historically necessary exceptions to include the Karelian villages beyond the former border with Russia. In the present area of Finland the east includes the regions of South and North Karelia, the eastern parts of Kainuu, the Koillismaa region and eastern Lapland, all of them along the border with Russia that extends for over 1,300 kilometres. Also linked to the east through the Lake Saimaa water system are large areas of South and North Savo.
The East of Finland in Photographs is a weave of magical realism created from countless pieces, in which each picture tells a small part of the story of the east. This story is sometimes wistful, sometimes amusing and often surprising. The photographs lead us through the meanings attached to the east in the shared consciousness of Finns. They do not depict all of Finland, but without the east Finland would be something different from what we know it to be now.
1. Ari Jaskari
Young Woman smoking.
Lietvesi, Puumala, 1989
ROOM II
1. Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Kerttu.
Lieksa, Ukko-Koli, 2011
2. Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Arno and Kerttu.
Lieksa, Pielinen, Koli, 2011
3. Arto Hämäläinen
Puumala, Katosselkä, 1997
4. Arto Hämäläinen
Niittusaaret.
Savonlinna, Pihlajavesi, 1996
5. Arto Hämäläinen
Puumala, Riihonlahti, 2004
6. J. A. Friis
Kuusamo Church.
Kuusamo, 1867
Finnish Heritage Agency
7. Unidentified photographer
Olavinlinna Castle with the roof of one tower missing.
Savonlinna, before 1872
National Heritage Agency
8. Michael Seifert
The south harbour and castle of Viipuri decorated for the visit of Tsar Alexander III.
Viipuri, 4 August 1885
The Photographic Archives of the Lahti City Museum
9. Aksel Berner
Rune singer Miihkali Perttunen (Arhippainen Miihkali).
Latvajärvi, Vuokkiniemi, 1872
The Finnish Literature Society
10. Eero Järnefelt
Fourteen-year-old farm maid Johanna Kokkonen in burn-clearing work.
Lapinlahti, Väisälänmäki, 1893
National Archives of Finland
The Photograph Collection of the Eero Järnefelt Archive
11. Eero Järnefelt
Rune singer Larin Paraske.
Early 1890s
National Archives of Finland
The Photograph Collection of the Eero Järnefelt Archive
12. Karl Granit
Chimneyless cabin at Pölkkypuro.
Nilsiä, 1890–1893
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
Eero Järnefelt
Slädar (Sleighs).
Drawn from Karl Granit’s photograph for the book
Finland i 19de seklet: Framstäld i ord och bild af finska skriftställare och konstnärer
(Finland in the 19th Century: Presented in Text and Pictures
by Finnish Authors and Artists)
1893
13. Hugo Simberg
Girl with a sheep.
Säkkijärvi, Niemenlautta, 1913
The Finnish National Gallery
14. Hugo Simberg
Self-portrait on a glacially transported boulder.
Säkkijärvi, Niemenlautta, 1900
The Finnish National Gallery.
15. Unidentified photographer
The Syvänniemi sawmill and bobbin factory.
H. Saastamoinen Ltd., which owned the factory was the world’s
largest producer of bobbins from the 1910s to the 1930s.
Karttula, early 1900s
The Photograph Collection of the Saastamoinen Foundation
16. Arnold Boos
The Port of Kuopio, 1879–1880
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
17. Victor Barsokevitsch
Bobbin girl.
Kuopio, 1894
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
18. Karl Granit
View from Vuorela across the new railway towards the town of Kuopio.
Kuopio, 1888–1893
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
19. Unknown photographer
The wooden runway of Rissala airport.
Rissala, Siilinjärvi, 1941–1944
SA-kuva, Finnish Defence Forces
20. I. K. Inha
Panorama from Uuhimäki.
Kuopio, 1899
The Finnish Museum of Photography
21. I. K. Inha
Panorama from Pisa Fell.
Nilsiä, 1893
The Finnish Museum of Photography
22. Karl Granit
Author Heikki Kauppinen teaching at Kehvo school.
Siilinjärvi, 1892–1894
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
23. Victor Barsokevitsch
Queuing for butter in the Market Square in Kuopio.
Kuopio, 1916
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
24. Tuttu Jänis
Members of the Civil Guard Boys’ Auxiliary on an outing by ship to Hietasalo island.
Kuopio, 1930
The Kuopio Museum of Cultural History
25. Victor Barsokevitsch
The Reconnaissance Detail of the Kuopio Sharpshooter Battalion.
In the middle in the front row is the legendary bear hunter and
canal engineer, Captain Bror Berndt Höök.
Kuopio, 1893
Finnish Heritage Agency
26. Anni Leppälä
With Flora (portrait of an ancestor).
Koivumäki Manor, Kuopio, 2008
27. Louis Sparre
The Town Hall and Market Square of Kajaani.
Kajaani, 1894
National Heritage Agency
Press Photo Archive JOKA, the Kaleva newspaper Collection
28. Louis Sparre
Tar boats being prepared for their journey.
Kajaani region, 1894
National Heritage Agency
Press Photo Archive JOKA, the Kaleva newspaper Collection
29. Louis Sparre
Woman using a sickle.
Nokeus, Olonets Karelia, 1982
National Heritage Agency
Press Photo Archive JOKA, the Kaleva newspaper Collection
30. Eino Mäkinen
Fyke nets.
Lake Saimaa, 1935
National Audiovisual Institute
31. Eino Mäkinen
Bread rising.
Varpaisjärvi, Puumala, 1937
National Audiovisual Institute
32. Eino Mäkinen
Boy leading a blind woman.
Salmi, 1935
33. Eino Mäkinen
Saimaa Canal, 1935
National Audiovisual Institute
34. Eino Mäkinen
Village cattle and herder on the morning of Midsummer Day.
Salmi, Varpakylä, 1936
National Audiovisual Institute
35. Ismo Hölttö
Savo, 1960s
36. Caj Bremer
The shackles of Runar Holmström indicted for murders committed at Tulilahti.
Heinävesi, 1960
37. Janne Körkkö
Swamp Soccer World Championships.
Hyrynsalmi, 2017
Room III
1. Benjamin Frosterus
Stones being loaded on a ship.
Virolahti, Pyterlahti, 1909
The Geological Survey of Finland
2. Sergei Prokudin-Gorski
The narrow section at Lauritsala in the Saimaa Canal, 1903
Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
3. Hans Hausen
The Outokumpu ore refinery.
Outokumpu, 1928
Geological Survey of Finland
4. Benjamin Frosterus
The Mustavaara Steatite Quarry.
Nunnanlahti, Juuka, 1904
The Geological Survey of Finland
5. Jean Schmidt
The Möhkö ironworks.
Ilomantsi, 1880s
Finnish Heritage Agency
6. Tuomo Ahokas
Girls in an ox-drawn sleigh.
Joensuu, 1906
National Heritage Agency
The Karelian Student Nation Collection
7. Unidentified photographer
Merchant Nikolai Ivanovits Wolkoff with two female servants
and his sales cart in the old Market Place of Lappeenranta.
1901–1913
Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
8. Unidentified photographer
Log floaters.
Suistamo, turn of the 1920s and the 1930s
The Museum of North Karelia
9. Ivar Ekström
Vieremä, Salahminjärvi, 1911
10. Ivar Ekström
The family of former forestry foreman Kokkonen of the Karhula Company.
Kiuruvesi, Kotajärvi, 1924
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The A. Ahlström Collection
11. Lassi Hämäläinen
Clearing a log jam in the River Pielisjoki.
Joensuu, 1920s
The Museum of North Karelia
12. A. O. Väisänen
Jamani Paavila, a rune singer over 100 years old, singing into a phonograph.
Uhtua, White Sea Karelia, 1915
Finnish Heritage Agency
13. A. O. Väisänen
Kantele player Jaakko Kulju.
Suojärvi, 1917
National Heritage Agency
14. Aarne Pietinen
Rune singer and kantele player Timo Lipitsä at Sortavala Singing Festival in 1935.
The Finnish Museum of Photography
15. Jaakko Kilpiäinen
Scream.
Joensuu, 1994.
16. Jaakko Kilpiäinen
Rock artist.
Joensuu, 1996
17. Gösta Grotenfelt
G. Hanhinen’s wife and mother-in-law.
Salmi, Mantsinsaari, Peltoinen, 1910–1917
National Heritage Agency
18. Reino Pietinen
The Pietinen family.
Antrea, 1910s
The Finnish Museum of Photography
19. I. K. Inha
Fair Toarie.
Uhtua, White Sea Karelia, 1894
The Finnish Literature Society
20. Mikko Haiko
From the Heartland series.
Lemi, 2013
21. Mikko Haiko
From the Heartland series.
Lemi, 2013
22. Mikko Haiko
From the series The Hall of The Forest King.
Lemi, 2016
23. Yrjö Blomstedt and Victor Joachim Sucksdorff
The Feast of Jordan.
Rukajärvi, Olonets Karelia 1894
National Heritage Agency
24. I. K. Inha
A bride ceremonially begging for forgiveness on an animal skin.
Jyvöälahti, White Sea Karelia, 1894
The Finnish Literature Society
25. I. K. Inha
Weeping at the grave.
Suistamo, 1895
The Finnish Museum of Photography
26. I. K. Inha
The Orthodox chapel (tsasouna).
Vuonninen, White Sea Karelia, 1894
The Finnish Literature Society
27. Topi Ikäläinen
Devotional meeting in the farmhouse of Paavo Ruotsalainen,
a 19th-century Pietist leader.
Nilsiä, Aholansaari, 1982
28. Jukka Gröndahl
June on Murtosaari Island.
Lake Saimaa, Pihlajavesi, 1986
29. Jukka Gröndahl
January on Murtosaari Island.
Pihlajavesi, Lake Saimaa, 1988
30. Jukka Gröndahl
Kainuu, October 1982
31. Leo Montonen
Ship boys.
Puumala, undated
The Olli Jaatinen Collection
32. Leo Montonen
Twin brothers Einari and Taavetti Reponen.
Lintusalo, Puumala, 1920s
The Olli Jaatinen Collection
ROOM IV
1. Erkki Mikkola
Skolt Sámi returning home after staying at Kaulatunturi Fjeld.
Petsamo, 1930s
The Finnish Museum of Photography
The Finnish Tourist Association Collection
2. Sakari Pälsi
Skolt Sámi wife.
Petsamo, 1929
National Heritage Agency
3. Fred Runeberg
Boy with dried fish in a wheelbarrow.
Liinahamari, Petsamo, 1930s
The Finnish Museum of Photography
The Finnish Tourist Association Collection
4. Karl Nickul
The Sverloff family setting out on their autumn migration.
Petsamo, Suonikylä, 1935
Finnish Heritage Agency
5. Sakari Pälsi
Village scene, stockfish put out to dry.
Petsamo, 1929
National Heritage Agency
6. Sakari Pälsi
Sailing boat on a riverbank.
Petsamo, 1929
National Heritage Agency
7. Eino Mäkinen
Child with a Lamb.
Photographed in connection with making the ethnographic film
Suonikylän talvielämää. (Winter in Suonikylä).
Suonikylä, Petsamo, 1938
National Audiovisual Institute
8. Harry Hinze
Roma fortune-teller.
Punkaharju, 1896
National Heritage Agency
9. Mikko Savolainen
Roma man.
Nurmes, 1969
10. Unidentified photographer
Riders at the ruins of the Civil War.
Viipuri, 1918
Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
The Viipuri Museum Collection
11. Wilfrid Eugén Brotherus
The Olonets military expedition.
Transporting patients from Manga to Prääsä.
Olonets Karelia, 1919
National Heritage Agency
12. Pekka Elomaa
Mass grave of Reds from the Finnish Civil War of 1918.
From the series Paha maisema. (Evil Landscape).
Viipuri (Vyborg), Russia, 2006
13. Aarne Pietinen Oy
The square in front of the Viipuri Railway Station.
Viipuri, 1930–1937
Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
The Viipuri Museum Collection
14. Unidentified photographer
May Day procession.
Ilomantsi, 1920s
National Heritage Agency
The Kimy-Kustannus Collection
15. Antti Pullinen
The beach of the Terijoki Sea Baths.
Terijoki, 1920s or 1930s
Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
16. Rafael Roos
Head office of the Enso plants of the Enso-Gutzeit Corporation.
Enso, Jääski, early 1930s
National Heritage Agency
The Foto Roos Collection
17. Ivar Ekström
Varkaus, 1920s–1940s
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The A. Ahlström Collection
18. Jalmari Lankinen
Siiri Lankinen fishing.
Antrea, 1935
The Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
The Juha Lankinen Collection
19. Pekka Turunen
Ilomantsi, Haukivaara, 1990
20. Pekka Turunen
Old ladies from Timola.
Timola, Tohmajärvi, 1990
21. Helena Södergran
Author Edith Södergran with her cat Totti.
Raivola, 1910s
The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
22. Ahti Rytkönen
Returning home for the night from mowing hay.
Aholankylä, Kuolajärvi (Salla), 1926
National Heritage Agency
23. Ahti Rytkönen
Women cleaning fish.
Tuovilanlahti, Maaninka, 1926
National Heritage Agency
24. Ivar Ekström
Smoothing trousers and shirts with a rolling pin on a Saturday evening.
Sonkajärvi, 1920
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The A. Ahlström Collection
25. Uuno Peltoniemi
Man from Kanabrojärvi.
Salmi, 1930s
National Heritage Agency
26. Erkki Reima
Skier in a snowy forest.
Koli, Lieksa, 1930s
Finnish Museum of Photography
The Finnish Tourist Association Collection
27. Juha Metso
Line of trucks on their way to the Russian border.
Vaalimaa, 2007
ROOM V
1. Kim Borg
Eleven-year-old Anni, the victim of an enemy bombing.
Nurmoila, Olonets Karelia, 1942
SA-kuva, Finnish Defence Forces
2. Valde Näsi
Sortavala, 1941–1944
SA-kuva, Finnish Defence Forces
3. Erik Blomberg
Evacuee train at Nurmi station.
Vahviala, June 1944
SA-kuva, Finnish Defence Forces
4. Pekka Kyytinen
Soldier ploughing during the trench warfare stage of
the Finnish Soviet Continuation War.
Kurkijoki, 1942–1943
Finnish Heritage Agency
The Pekka Kyytinen Collection
5. Pekka Kyytinen
Women and cattle returning home during the Continuation War.
Kurkijoki, 1941–1944
National Heritage Agency
6. Werner Bischof
Pupils of a country school during a break.
Ilomantsi, Naarva, 1948
Magnum Photos
7. Aukusti Tuhka
Children helping their mother bake bread in the ruins of their destroyed home.
Kuusamo, Nissinvaara, 1940s
National Heritage Agency
The Aukusti Tuhka Collection
8. Unidentified photographer
Evacuee mother and children.
North Karelia, 1947
National Heritage Agency
Press Photo Archive JOKA, the Uusi Suomi–Iltalehti Collection
9. Sanni Seppo
From the series Ajan jälki (The Mark of Time).
Ilomantsi, 2002–2017
10. Sanni Seppo
From the series Ajan jälki (The Mark of Time).
Ilomantsi, 2002–2017
11. Sanni Seppo
From the series Ajan jälki (The Mark of Time).
Ilomantsi, 2002–2017
12. Sanni Seppo
From the series Ajan jälki (The Mark of Time).
Ilomantsi, 2002–2017
13. Eino Mäkinen
Quarry of the Paraisten Kalkkivuori mining company.
Ihalainen, Lappeenranta, 1950–1955
Museum of the City of Lappeenranta
14. Erkki Suihko
The Hynninen Photographic Studio
Drilling underground.
Outokumpu, late 1960s
Geological Survey of Finland
15. Pauli Jänis
The Pirttiniemi machinery works.
Varkaus, 1951
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The Jänis Photography Firm Collection
16. Esko Eskelinen
The corner of Market Square.
Joensuu, 1956
The Museum of North Karelia
17. Esko Eskelinen
Shoveling snow at the Paihola mental hospital.
Kontiolahti, 1960
The Museum of North Karelia
18. Pekka Kyytinen
The Egyptinkorpi post-war settlement village.
Lieksa, 1948
National Heritage Agency
The Pekka Kyytinen Collection
19. Martti Brandt
Resettlement farm.
Itä-Kaira, late 1950s
20. Mikko Savolainen
From the series Suomea tämäkin (This too is Finland).
North Karelia, 1960s
21. Esko Eskelinen
Village scene at Tervaruukki.
Ilomantsi, 1961
The Museum of North Karelia
22. Helge Heinonen
The Pentikäinen orphans moving from Varpaisjärvi to Laajalahti
in Espoo near Helsinki.
Varpaisjärvi, 1966
National Heritage Agency
Press Photo Archive JOKA, the Helge W. Heinonen Collection
23. Ben Kaila
From the Siirtosuomalainen (Migrant Finns) series.
Tuupovaara, 1973
24. Ben Kaila
From the Siirtosuomalainen (Migrant Finns) series.
Tuupovaara, 1973
25. Pekka Kyytinen
Valtimo, Karhunpää,1955–1974
National Heritage Agency
The Pekka Kyytinen Collection
26. Pekka Kyytinen
The photographer washing his car.
Savonranta, 1955
National Heritage Agency
The Pekka Kyytinen Collection
27. Esko Eskelinen
North Karelia, 1960s
The Museum of North Karelia
ROOM VI
1. Paavo Jänis
New apartment buildings in the Joutenlahti area.
Varkaus, 1978
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The Jänis Photographic Studio Collection
2. Topi Ikäläinen
Bus at Särkiniemi.
Kuopio, 1970s
3. Arto Hämäläinen
Lada automobiles being brought by rail to Finland from the Soviet Union.
Simola, Lappeenranta, 1986–87
Museums of the City of Lappeenranta
4. Jaakko Kilpiäinen
Boy in a playground.
Joensuu, 1998
5. Pekka Turunen
Eero Kurvinen.
Ilomantsi, Naarva, 1987
6. Pekka Turunen
Veikko Kettunen.
Ilomantsi, Hattuvaara, 1986
7.-9. Hannele Rantala
Nurmes, 1978
10. Mikko Savolainen
Tohmajärvi, 1982
11. Mikko Savolainen
Welcome.
North Karelia, 1982
12. – 17. Ritva Kovalainen and Sanni Seppo
From the series Metsänhoidollisia toimenpiteitä (Forestry Measures).
Ilomantsi, 2003
18. Esko Eskelinen
Carrying brushwood at the Lintulahti refuse dump.
North Karelia, 1959
The Museum of North Karelia
19. Unidentified photographer
Wolf hunters with their catch at Martovaara.
Polvijärvi, turn of the 1910s and 1920s
The Museum of North Karelia
The Collection of the North Karelian Agricultural Centre.
20. Ahti Rytkönen
Father and son with a fox trap board.
Pielavesi, Tuovilanlahti, 1926
National Heritage Agency
21. Ivar Ekström
Crippled old woman harvesting grain.
Karttula, 1925
The Historical Museum of Varkaus
The A. Ahlström Collection
22. Ahti Rytkönen
Slash-and-burn farmers taking an after-dinner nap.
Maaninka, Tuovilanlahti, 1928
National Heritage Agency
23. Jaakko Kilpiäinen
Antti Hämäläinen rolling a bale of litter straw.
Lapinlahti, 2004
24.-27. Touko Hujanen
From the Metsäperhe (Forest Family) series.
Valtimo, 2017
28. Ari Jaskari
Young Woman smoking.
Puumala, Lietvesi,1989
29. Ari Jaskari
Christmas Eve.
Anttola, 1982
30. Ari Jaskari
Home yard.
Anttola, 1980.
31. Ari Jaskari
Pau in a pole hut at Linnansaari.
Rantasalmi, 1979
32. Janne Körkkö
Swamp Soccer World Championships.
Hyrynsalmi, 2017
33. Veli Granö
Veijo Rönkkönen’s Yoga Park.
Parikkala, 1986
34. Antero Takala
Frosty November morning.
Puruvesi, Hulkonsalmi, 1999
35. Antero Takala
November at Paasvesi.
Suonenjoki, 2002