Debate, Bokmelderlauget | Fabulous road trip on the Nordkalotten

In the new year 2024, Terje Øiesvold published the book “Fra Nord – Nordkalottens billedhistorie 1550–1850” at Orkana forlag. Just over a month later, Øiesvold died, barely 75 years old. The publication was marked with a well-attended book bath in Stormen library.

Terje Øiesvold was a doctor and professor of psychiatry at UIT/Norway’s Arctic University. In addition, we know him as a nature lover, especially from his time as leader of the Folkekaksionen Spar Saltfjellet from the end of the 1970s onwards. His bibliophile interest has not been so well known. No less, Øiesvold has, over a 20-year period, collected book illustrations and prints about the Northern Cape to what was probably the most complete collection of this species and about this area.

A small book by Øiesvold from 2016: Bodø – a bicentennial commemoration: in Anne Grønbech Sussemell’s footsteps (Forenkla forlag) could be a foretaste of what was to come. The book is based on AG Sussemel’s memory book and depicts Body in the decades before 1814, but the author also uses elements from travelogues by foreigners traveling in Northern Norway to shed light on the era.

The theme of the book Fra nord is a pictorial history of the Nordkalotten over 300 years, in the period 1550 to 1850. The source material is mainly taken from books in the author’s collection and less from independent works of art. The artists’ interest in the Nordics came later, according to the author. The material is chronologically arranged in 16 chapters and often linked to a particular author or portrayer, such as Olaus Magnus and Francesco Negri. Some chapters are topographically or thematically arranged, such as the chapter on the Moskstraumen and on the Sami people. In addition to the primary sources, Øiesvold has covered his presentation with an impressive selection of secondary literature, and I consider the work to be a scientific work.

The last chapter deals with science and art. The French naturalist Paul Gaimard led three scientific expeditions on the North Calotte around 1840. The scientific results of the expeditions are not that impressive, according to Øiesvold, but the historical and literary studies from the expedition, and not least the magnificent plans, have qualities that are well worth keeping fram: Øiesvold quotes Nils M Knutsen/Per Posti (2002): “… the most comprehensive and most magnificent work on Norway, northern Scandinavia and Spitsbergen that has ever been published.” Øiesvold uses many of these plans as illustrations, and he has taken the trouble to create both a biography and a bibliography of published contributions after these expeditions.

It was too long to cover all the chapters in the book in this message. I would like to go into more detail on a chapter that links action to our area.

Ludvig Filip was king of France from 1830. Before that he lived a turbulent life in exile after 1795 when his father was executed on suspicion of treason and sympathy for the revolution in 1789. In 1795 he decided to travel through Scandinavia, all the way to the North Cape. During the journey he came to Bodin rectory where he had stayed for a period with priest Erik Gerhard Schytte. The vicarage was built in 1750 and the priest Friis engaged the well-known painter Gottfried Ezekiel to decorate rooms in the vicarage. Ludvig Filip is said to have lived in one of these rooms…

When the vicarage was later demolished, one of the decorated rooms was reconstructed in a new building – and has since been referred to as the “Ludvig Filip room”.

A chapter at Øiesvold is devoted to the journey to Ludvig Filip. There is little written material from this journey. Historian Jorulf Haugen has written about the vicarage and the Ludvig Filip room in the Nordland county encyclopedia: “There is no contemporaneous, reliable account of Louis Philippe’s journey and experiences in Scandinavia, either from himself or others.” He is probably right about that.

Øiesvold equally succeeds to a certain extent in reconstructing Ludvig Filip’s journey. He uses the literature and not least photographic material from other expeditions, and shows connections with other expeditions, not least with Paul Gaimard mentioned above, who benefited from the goodwill of the later King Ludvig Philip. The reconstruction is not flawless, but still believable. The author is not categorical and does not try to give the impression that “this is how it was”; more that “this is how it could have been”.

The work is not just a picture story. It also provides – as shown – exciting and useful real-life and personal history information. Admittedly, in a different context than we find in traditional historical works, and it thus acts as a supplement and alternative perspective on history as we know it in the history books. The use of the photographic material as a source for the reports is perhaps the most important element.

The book also provides good experiences, and here it is also the rich illustration material that makes the work. Natural phenomena such as the Moskstraumen and the Northern Lights, natural formations such as Nordkapp and Sulisfjella conveyed with the gaze of the time, are overwhelming. People of that time are depicted in party and work, and if there is anyone wondering what the Devil himself looks like? You can find a picture of him in this work.

“Fra nord” is a magnificent book in large format. The illustrations come into their own, and the design is appealing. An inviting detail marks the new chapter: the left-hand front page provides room for a thought-provoking quote, printed on a toned-down illustration. All credit to the book designer!

In the preface, the author thanks a lot of good helpers, not least his own children, and he dedicates the work to his present and future grandchildren. Probably a conscious act and a generous gesture from him who knew his fate.

The book can be read from cover to cover. Nevertheless, most people will read and study the chapters in random order. Some will search by area and people, and then it would have been fine to have a register of topography and people.

That is the only objection I can make to this work.