Interior View of Ruins of St. Nicholas

The field of architectural photography has traditionally been dominated by men, particularly in the 19th century. This work reveals the skill of a rare exception, the Swedish photographer Olivia Wittberg. Her view of the late medieval church of St. Nicholas conveys a careful handling of light, which illuminates the interior through the vertical lancet windows and the missing roof over the apse in the background. The picture has a soft, enchanting feel, emphasizing tonal qualities over sharp focus, which was common in the late 19th century. Wittberg operated a photography studio in Sweden on Gotland Island and photographed all the churches there, most of which had fallen into ruin in the 16th century, including this work.