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Jay Levin | all galleries >> Photographs From Our Voyage To The Baltic >> Oslo, Norway > The World's Oldest Profession In Oslo
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02-AUG-2007

The World's Oldest Profession In Oslo

Albertine: A Corner Bas-relief On The Wall Of The City Hall

Tourists come from time to time to the Information Office in the City Hall and ask where the statue of the prostitute is. Here is the answer:

Prostitution was widespread in the old Vika district, an area of Oslo that disappeared in the replanning for the construction of the
City Hall. In the relief Alfred Seland depicted this activity on a projecting corner of the building's eastern façade. Some tourists
claim that the City Hall of Oslo is the only place in the world that has a work of art depicting prostitution on a wall.

In his novel Albertine from 1886, Christian Krohg tells of the poverty that drove young girls into public prostitution. The relief is a
monument to this shady side of the past. Alfred Seland's work was carried out in the years 1939 to 1948. The relief was given
the name Albertine and shows a woman rather overdressed in a style favoured by the prostitutes of the period. She stands
between an older man, who is probably the customer, and another man, whose type is more obscure, possibly the pimp.
The scene can also be interpreted as the story of the girl's choice between the rich man's questionable
favour and a sweethart from her own class.
http://www.oslo.kommune.no/the_city_of_oslo/government/article22769-7769.html?articleID=22769&categoryID=7769&printMe=1


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Christian Wilse 28-Jun-2024 15:14
The man used as a model in the relief is my grand father Henry Ingebrigtsen born in Bergen , moved to Olso
Carolyn Rasmussen28-Oct-2007 22:59
Excellent shot and interesting info. V
Andrew Vincent27-Oct-2007 08:34
Yep that looks just like our prostitutes.....

I always come away from your galleries just a little more learned. Nice shot, VOTE!
laine8227-Oct-2007 07:09
Ahhhh, Albertine, now i see what you meant :>) Nicely captured, Jay.
Carol Rollins26-Oct-2007 02:08
Very beautiful image and most intriguing story. Excellent presentation Jay. V.
Char25-Oct-2007 11:42
Hi Jay,
She looks like the perfectly proper prostitute. Excellent capture and thank you for sharing the story it's really interesting. \/
Janet Forjan-Freedman25-Oct-2007 11:24
I am thoroughly enjoying the interesting stories behind everyone of our wonderful captures!
Marjan Schavemaker25-Oct-2007 08:44
Great capture, Jay, thanks for the explanation, never realized there exist a particular statue!! -V-
Dave Wixx25-Oct-2007 02:42
Another excellent shot. You like your statues!?
Cindi Smith25-Oct-2007 01:48
Wow! Great story and image...guess they didn't wear hotpants back then or halter tops...sorry, couldn't resist!
Lloyd & Sandy Spitalnik25-Oct-2007 00:40
Excellent shot Jay! S&L
Guest 25-Oct-2007 00:36
You are a wealth of knowledge, Jay. Great shot and interesting story.
Guest 24-Oct-2007 17:19
looks like you are enjoying your vacation in Norway Jay :). great shot ! V
Aivar Mikko24-Oct-2007 16:56
Nice sculpture and shot. Good note. V.
Art Parnell24-Oct-2007 14:43
Interesting relief and story. Nice to see that some professions aren't outdated.
Barb24-Oct-2007 14:42
Great info and shot.
Hank Vander Velde24-Oct-2007 13:44
Great shot, great story Jay. V.
CIS24-Oct-2007 13:42
What a wonderful shot and story behind this, it's beautiful. Love the touch of golden light on the curves at the top and you POV!
QUERIDO24-Oct-2007 13:35
Excellent shot,vote
Fong Lam24-Oct-2007 13:29
The lighting cast on the wall makes the relief very dimensional.
Excellent information that goes with this superb image, Jay
~V~
Nestor Derkach24-Oct-2007 12:13
Most interesting description and I can see it in the image.
Excellent image with nice light and detail.
Vote
Marcia Colelli24-Oct-2007 12:10
wonderful find V
Sam_C24-Oct-2007 06:54
Lovely shot, great light, great caption! V
Paco López24-Oct-2007 05:57
Very good work!!! V!
January Grey24-Oct-2007 05:20
Amazing capture, Jay! And such an interesting story! V~
Brian McAllister24-Oct-2007 05:03
Splendid image Jay and interesting history.
Debbie Blackburn Beierle24-Oct-2007 05:00
Excellent detail. Very interesting history! Thanks, Jay. V
Gerard Koehl24-Oct-2007 04:47
Excellent... V
Peter Stahl24-Oct-2007 03:38
Excellent info and shot Jay! GMV.
flowsnow24-Oct-2007 03:13
Great compo. The couple and .....you see the other ...
Yiannis Pavlis24-Oct-2007 03:11
This is really beautiful. And great story!V
Tom Munson24-Oct-2007 03:00
Terrific shot Jay and great story. V
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