Sig­urhans Vig­nir

Vignir retouching a photograph at home,1935–42. Private collection.

Vignir retouching a photograph at home,1935–42. Private collection.

Sigurhans Vignir was a photographer who worked from around 1917 to 1967. He used his artistic talents to hand-color photographs. His images preserve memories of the major changes that took place in Reykjavík during the first half of the twentieth century.

About the Pho­to­grapher

“Vignir, the well-known photographer, guarantees the best results.”

Slogan from an advertisement by Remedia Ltd., a company with which Sigurhans Vignir collaborated from approximately 1935 to 1940.

Reykjavík at the time when Sigurhans Vignir moved there, around 1917, to study photography at the studio of Jón J. Dahlmann and Ólafur Oddsson at 3 Þingholtsstræti. Postcard showing Bankastræti around 1920. Helgi Árnason, Reykjavík.

Reykjavík at the time when Sigurhans Vignir moved there, around 1917, to study photography at the studio of Jón J. Dahlmann and Ólafur Oddsson at 3 Þingholtsstræti. Postcard showing Bankastræti around 1920. Helgi Árnason, Reykjavík.

“This remarkable man began his artistic career as a painter, but he had little faith that painting alone could provide him with a secure livelihood, while photography attracted him just as strongly.”

The reknown Painter Jóhannes Kjarval commenting on an exhibition by Vignir in Austurstræti in the summer of 1940. Published in Vísir, 15 June 1940.

Ret­ro­spect­ive "The Si­lent but Noble Art"

The Reykjavík Asphalt Plant at Elliðaárvogur, 1945–1955. Photo: Sigurhans Vignir.

From the Photo Col­lec­tion

Video Ma­ter­ial

The City's His­tory

The City's His­tory

The City's His­tory