Elen and Mathilde

Get to know photographer Elen Loftesnes and her companion Mathilde Pettersen

This collection of photographs originate in the archive of Elen Loftesnes (1905-1979), local photographer in Sogndal from 1930-1960. She never married, and not much is known about her personal life. But from her photographs a woman appears, who was clearly very important to Elen. After further research we found this to be Mathilde Pettersen, lifelong companion and often model of the photographer.

Elen lived a life after her own taste. Most of her time was spent taking care of her elderly parents and working as a photographer, but in her spare time she enjoyed going on trips and hikes, and even bought her own cabin in the mountains. She was a member of the Salvation Army, wich is where she met Mathilde Pettersen. Mathilde was from a working class family and grew up in Bergen. She moved in with Elen in Sogndal, where she remained until she died in 1953 at the age of 47.

The photos show the pair in daily life, on hikes and trips, with friends from the Salvation Army and visiting relatives in Bergen, where they are remembered as Aunt Tilly and Aunt Elen. Showing these photos, we wish to celebrate the untraditional life choices of these women and their close bond.