Sune Jonsson’s The Village with the Blue House (Swedish: Byn med det blå huset) captures the social and cultural landscape of rural northern Sweden. This project, Jonsson’s first photobook, documents life in the villages of Djupsjönäs and Nyåker in Västerbotten, portraying an agrarian way of life in transition as modernization and urbanization reshaped the Swedish countryside. Combining photography with short stories, Jonsson employs a distinctive ethnographic approach, blending visual and literary narratives to create a profound document of rural existence.
Rooted in a tradition of social documentary photography, Jonsson’s work aligns with the influences of figures such as August Sander and Walker Evans, who sought to capture the daily lives of ordinary people. However, rather than seeking a universal humanist perspective, Jonsson’s images remain deeply localized, focusing on the intimate details of the specific communities he photographed.
Jonsson’s empathetic approach is evident in the quiet dignity he bestows upon his subjects, many of whom are portrayed within the familiar settings of homes, workplaces, and social spaces. The project offers a nuanced observation of life in a vanishing world, preserving the routines and rituals of rural Sweden with careful attention. The village, though specific in name, functions symbolically as a stand-in for many communities throughout northern Sweden, reinforcing a collective experience.
Visually, Jonsson’s black-and-white photography enhances the simplicity of the rural environment. His compositions frequently feature individuals in still, introspective moments, reinforcing the images' contemplative and somber tone. Centrally positioned within the frame, the subjects take on a central role in the community, while natural lighting accentuates the soft, diffused glow of northern Sweden.
First published in 1959 and reissued in 1972 and 1989, The Village with the Blue House is frequently cited in photobook histories and has featured in major surveys such as the Barbican’s In the Face of History (2006–07). Jonsson later received the Hasselblad Award (1993), and his archive is housed at the Sune Jonsson Centre for Documentary Photography at Västerbottens Museum (est. 2014), underscoring the work’s ongoing relevance within Nordic documentary traditions.
