Winckelmann and Sonner, Norwegian Bride and Groom in Hardanger Costumes, 1860s, Paper

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This vibrant 19th-century chromolithograph depicts a bride and groom in their traditional wedding costumes from Hardanger, a celebrated region of … Read more This vibrant 19th-century chromolithograph depicts a bride and groom in their traditional wedding costumes from Hardanger, a celebrated region of western Norway known for its rich folk culture and distinctive national dress. The couple is shown standing indoors against a timber wall, facing the viewer directly in formal and symmetrical poses. The bride wears a deep red skirt with intricate embroidery and a black bodice over a white blouse. Her apron is elaborately decorated and she is adorned with silver jewelry and a tall gilded bridal crown, a ceremonial headpiece unique to the region and traditionally worn on special occasions such as weddings. The groom wears a bright red jacket with a richly detailed blue and white waistcoat, dark breeches, and cream-colored stockings. His black top hat and ceremonial axe add a sense of festive formality to the scene.

This is Plate 6 from the series Udvalgte Norske Nationaldragter, or Selected Norwegian National Costumes. Published by Chr. Tonsberg in Christiania (now Oslo), the print was executed by the Berlin-based lithographic firm Winckelmann and Sonner. The artwork is after a composition by Johan Fredrik Eckersberg, one of Norway’s most noted painters of the national romantic period. This series was among the first comprehensive efforts to document and celebrate Norway’s regional dress traditions through fine lithographic prints. This specific plate, focusing on the elaborate bridal attire of Hardanger, is one of the most iconic and recognizable examples from the series, representing not only regional identity but also the ceremonial beauty of 19th-century rural Norway.

Condition: Very good condition with minor edge wear and faint age toning at the margins. The colors are vivid and well-preserved with strong definition in detail. See less