Goodwin's beautiful Stockholm

At the beginning of the 20th century, Henry B Goodwin became a pioneer in Swedish artistic photography. In 1920 he published the magnificent work "Our Beautiful Stockholm", where Swedish writers and artists contributed and he himself provided most of the illustrations. With this exhibition, Liljevalchs celebrates the 100th anniversary of the book.

Henry B Goodwin (1878-1931) was an enigmatic person, who worked tirelessly in several seemingly incompatible professions. First as a knowledgeable linguist, then as a fearless debater, photographer and author. Finally, last in life as an innovative gardening expert. Yet as a photographer he impresses the most, despite the few years in the profession. Between 1915 and 1930, Stockholm photographer Goodwin, with his romantic Art Nouve of Art Nouve, dominated the photographic scene in Sweden.

In artistic photography, Goodwin became a bold pioneer. In 1915 he conducted the first solo exhibition of art photography in Sweden. In text and photography, he later published book after book, which came to strengthen the self-confidence of an entire profession. 

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Goodwin introduced international photography to an inexperienced home audience and presented his own and other colleagues' images abroad. All in all, he strengthened photography's position as a full art form, which no one has done before. Many have since been captivated by Goodwin's beautiful photographs and enchanted by his wayward personality.

In 1920, Goodwin published "Our Beautiful Stockholm", perhaps the most exclusive photo book created in our country. It became a unique splendor with a limited edition of 200 numbered copies, where the edition was ordered in advance. Twenty-five of the most important writers and artists of the time had been invited by Goodwin to each pay tribute in words and pictures to the City of Stockholm. Of the book's nearly fifty illustrations, Goodwin himself accounted for the majority, thirty-nine photo engravings, each printed on art paper and pasted by hand.

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In early summer 1931, Goodwin falls on the garden staircase to the villa in Saltsjöbaden and breaks his leg. An injury that should have healed in a matter of weeks is getting worse. Complications occur and he spends most of the summer in hospital. He is becoming weaker and on September 11, 1931, Henry B. Goodwin dies at the age of only 53.

Text: Bruno Ehrs