Photographs and slides

The extensive collection of photographs and slides documents Danish and international visual arts and architecture. More

What does the collection contain?

The photograph and slide collection in fact comprises a great number of different collections. As a result of decades of systematic collection in Kunsthistorisk Billedarkiv (The Art Historical Picture Archive) there are several hundred thousand photographs (black and white in most cases) glued to/mounted on cardboard and provided with information about the artist, motif, ownership etc. or about the architect, place, period etc. Added to this are large collections of glass-plate negatives and various photographic special collections donated by individuals or associations, most often as documentation of pieces of Danish art or as materials used in teaching the visual arts in Denmark.
Finally there exist a large number of slide collections, which were either established by Danmarks Kunstbibliotek or were donated by individuals, institutions or associations, often with a specific focus.

Photographs of Danish visual art

The Kunsthistorisk Billedarkiv, which was originally called Statens Kunsthistoriske Fotografisamling, was systematically collecting from the 1920s until the 1970s photographs of Danish visual art from ancient to modern times. The roughly 54.500 photographs in the collection are mounted on card and provided with information as to artist, date, motif, owner, exhibitions, sale etc.

All the photographs of Danish visual art have been digitalised and can be searched under artist’s name or by searching "fotografier af dansk billedkunst" in the Library catalogue.
Downloading the photographs for one’s own use, e.g. for research or use in teaching is permitted, but not for further distribution.
Two card indexes for the collection with keys to the C- and D-numbers, which are copied on the cardboards,have likewise been digitalised and can be found in the Library catalogue by searching "hjælpekartotek".

Photographs of Visual Art from Other Countries

Kunsthistorisk Billedarkiv also included a large collection of photographs of foreign visual art. This collection is registered in a number of indexes to records which can be found in digitalised form via the Library catalogue. The individual boxes of photographs have not yet been made available for ordering via the Library catalogue, which is why one must apply via dkb@kunstbib.dk to be able to view them. Use the indexes to records to find which boxes you need, which boxes you require and inform us of this in your mail. The photo boxes must be viewed in the Study Room in Søborg. PLEASE REMEMBER to book a time for your visit to the Study Room in Søborg - Book a time for the Study Room

Slides

The Library contains a slide collection dealing with Danish visual art and architecture. The collection is the core of what, until 2010 was partly a lending collection for use in teaching and study. Today the collection can be consulted at the Study Room in Søborg. Apply for permission to view to dkb@kunstbib.dk.
PLEASE NOTE! As the slide collection is in storage, assistance with it is difficult and may take a long time.

Please also remember that a great number of architects have bequeathed photo and slide collections which are now stored under the architect’s name and can be found via. the Library catalogue.

Slide collections

A number of slide collections, both large and small, documenting Danish art and exhibition life. These can be consulted at the Study Room in Søborg by appointment. Apply therefore to dkb@kunstbib.dk.

List of special collections+

BP (Bent Petersen’s Collection): Modern Danish and foreign art in museums and exhibitions. Around 80,000 colour sides, taken by the editor of the periodical North, Bent Petersen, in the period roughly from. 1969 to 1984. Accompanied by a typed index to records.

GAA (Gunnar Aagaard Andersen’s Collection): Roughly 380 colour slides of the artist’s paintings from the 1940s to the 1970s.

LR (Lisa Rosenmeiers Collection): About 25 colour slides of the artists project "House of Love" (Stavanger 2000).

KJ (Kirsten Justesen’s Collection): Around 100 colour slides of the artist’s own works and projects from 1969 to 1993.

MG (Mads Gamdrup’s Collection): Around 200 colour slides, taken in 1994 at Danish galleries and exhibitions as documentation, particularly of the young art scene.

OS (Ole Schwalbe’s Collection): Around 700 colour slides from Schwalbe’s teaching at Kunstakademiet in the 1970s and 1980s.

OTTO (The collection dealing with the exhibition venue OTTO): Around 120 colour slides documenting the venue’s activities in the years 1997 to 1999.

WLS (William Louis Sørensen’s Collection): Around 120 colour slides of the artist’s own works and projects from 1961 to 1990.

AS (Asger Sessingø’s Collection): Pictures of Danish visual art ca. 1970-1985, taken by the photographer Asger Sessingø (negatives).

JH (Jørgen Humle’s Collection): Pictures taken by artist Jørgen Humle.

KKS (Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund’s Samling – Collection of the Women Artists Society): Works by members of Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund. (on loan to DKB).

kaare p.s collection of negatives (happenings and experimental theatre in the 1960s).

Old postcards and stereoscope pictures (primarily of foreign architecture).