Sámi Woman of Karasjok – Marcus Selmer (c. 1860s)

This portrait originates from the work of Marcus Selmer, whose 1860s studio images form some of the earliest photographic records of Sámi life in northern Scandinavia.

Here, a woman from Karasjok stands composed and self-possessed, dressed in traditional gákti and presented without theatrical gesture. In this IkonHaus edition, the original hand-tinted photograph has been carefully restored to bring the subject forward with greater clarity, while a softened, contemporary backdrop introduces subtle references inspired by Sámi cosmology and duodji traditions. These elements remain deliberately restrained, allowing the portrait’s dignity and presence to remain central.