Atlantica - 01.09.2003, Qupperneq 40

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38 A T L A N T I C A38 A T L A N T I C A MUSEUM
i-site DELI❍
Magnús Ólafsson (1862-1937) is undoubtedly the most important Icelandic pho-
tographer from the turn of the 20th century. He was a pioneering landscape pho-
tographer and the first Icelander to produce stereoscopic images. Ólafsson’s
photographs were extremely popular abroad and they evoked interest in the
beauty of the Icelandic landscapes. Ólafsson was also the first Icelander to
colour enlarged prints with watercolours.
Previously the director of a store in Akranes, southwest Iceland, Ólafsson decid-
ed at the age of 39 to make a living out of his hobby, photography.
Ólafsson was best known as a photographer of Reykjavík, as his images have
shed an important light on the city. The mass production and distribution of his
stereoscopic photographs made him a strong influence on the nation’s photo-
graphic vision. His photographs are a remarkable documentation of historic
events at the beginning of the 20th century, from the visit of the Danish King in
1907 to the Women’s Liberation Day on June 19th 1919. He also took the first aer-
ial photograph of Reykjavík.
In this retrospective at the Reykjavík Museum of Photography, over 80 of Ólafsson’s
photographs are on display. They are divided into five main categories: Portraits,
Economic Life, Reykjavík, The Countryside and Events. Here we look at his photo-
graphic career from 1901 to his death in 1937. The exhibition ties together the his-
toric and artistic heritage of Icelandic photography and reveals how important
his role was in creating the images we have of Reykjavík and Iceland at the turn
of the 20th century.
THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY, from 27 Sept. to 1 Dec.
Grófarhús, Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavík, tel. (+354) 563-1790,
www.ljosmyndasafnreykjavikur.is Open Mon to Fri 10.00-16.00.
Step Back in Time
MAGNÚS ÓLAFSSON
AT THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY
031-042 I-siteE ATL 503-rm 19.8.2003 15:38 Page 38