Einar Erici (1885–1965) was a physician by profession, working at a tuberculosis
hospital in Stockholm, even running a private medical practice. He was by then the
most renowned Swedish expert of church organs and organ builders, and his archival
collection is today held by the Swedish National Heritage Board. This archive includes
mostly writings, such as letters and manuscripts for published articles and essays,
but also more than 2 000 black and white photos – original prints, glass plates and
film negatives.
Einar Erici was a skilful amateur photographer. His main motifs were churches and
church organs, according to his field of science. The photos were taken during the
first half of the 20th century on his travels across Sweden. Most of them are from
the provinces of Gotland and Uppland.
However, main focus of the set will be on another and quite different field of Erici
as a photographer. He also took photos of people, mostly of older men wearing
beards. These ordinary Swedish men are posing for the camera, just standing
still, or performing some activity, like playing the guitar, making shoes, or gardening.
Sometimes their wives and families, as well as their homes, appear in the pictures.
Other photos are of Orthodox monks at Valamo Monastery on the island of Valaam,
in Lake Ladoga in Karelia, today located in Russia, at that time in Finland.
The photos of people are mainly from the 1930s.