Olaf Christoffersen
Photograph by Olaf Christoffersen of the steps at Deichman Library, capturing sharp architectural lines, sunlight, and shadows in a modernist style, circa 1930s.
Illustrative image related to Olaf Christoffersen’s photographic collection or brand identity.
Illustrative image related to Olaf Christoffersen’s photographic collection or brand identity.
Illustrative image related to Olaf Christoffersen’s photographic collection or brand identity.
Photograph by Olaf Christoffersen of the steps at Deichman Library, capturing sharp architectural lines, sunlight, and shadows in a modernist style, circa 1930s.

The Steps

In “The Steps” by Olaf Christoffersen, the contrast between shadows and strong sunlight captures not only the development of the urban landscape but also a personal story of growth. The photograph marks a transition from his earlier pictorialism and moves towards the modernism of the 1930s. Taken at the Deichman Library, completed two years prior, it reflects the architectural innovations of the time.

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The Steps (1935) was taken at the newly opened Deichman Main Library in Hammersborg and is part of a series of works in which Christoffersen moves away from the crafted aesthetic of pictorialism in favor of a more direct and formally oriented photographic practice. The image shows a young person ascending the main staircase, bathed in sharp daylight. The hard shadows trace the architectural rhythm of the steps and give the image a graphic quality that emphasizes the room’s lines and movement.

Technical Details: Christoffersen’s work reflects the modernist currents that shaped Oslo Kamera Klubb throughout the 1930s. Wilhelm Piro played a key role in introducing impulses from Germany, France, and Czechoslovakia to the club environment, helping to expand the conversation around photographic form and expression. The image was likely taken with a Voigtländer “Superb” camera equipped with a Heliar lens and clearly demonstrates how Christoffersen worked with light and shadow as structuring elements in the composition – with a strong emphasis on precision, depth, and balance.

Format: TIFF

Size: 197,3 mb

Resolution: 6867×4787

DPI: 300

Color Model: RGB

Color Sync: Adobe RGB (1998)

Prints are available for purchase on the website

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Olaf Christoffersen
A pioneer in the field of photographic art.
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