Erna Behind the Camera

Erna Hasselblad steps out of the shadows – a new exhibition highlights the woman behind the camera and the company.

The history of the Hasselblad camera company has long been dominated by Victor and his family. But Erna was always by his side. Now, the Hasselblad Foundation presents the exhibition and publication Erna Behind the Camera, which for the first time provides a clearer picture of her decisive importance to the company's success.

Erna Hasselblad was Victor’s driving force, a board member, and a central figure in the early development of Hasselblad AB. Despite this, her role has often been diminished in historical accounts, due to patriarchal structures, but also because traces of her have been few. The Hasselblad couple lived a public life while remaining deeply private. Upon their passing, personal letters and documents were burned according to their will. By piecing together fragments from newspaper archives, corporate documents, and other archival material, research has now led to new information about Erna's position and influence.

The exhibition also highlights Erna as a photographer. The Foundation's collections include the couple’s private photo collection. A closer study reveals that Victor was far from the only one behind the lens. Through images from travels, parties, and social gatherings, we catch glimpses of the world through Erna's eyes.

Image:

Erna on safari in Kenya, 1967, with a movie camera in her hand. Photo: Victor Hasselblad.