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Old Graveyard

Else Bergitte Petersen (b. Debess) (1854-1927)

The foremost Faroese pre WWI photographer. Elsa was the first Faroese woman to become a professional photographer. Her images are a pivotal element of Faroese cultural heritage.

Elsa Petersen. Source: The National Museum of the Faroe Islands

When photographer Elsa Petersen passed away in January 1927, she was a household name. She has been referred to as the foremost Faroese pre World War I photographer. Fellow photographer Absalon Joensen writes in his eulogy to Elsa in the paper Dimmalætting on 7th  January 1928: ‘Photography was to her what art is to a true artist.’ Her images are a key element of Faroese cultural heritage.

Like many other women she moved to study at a folk high school in Denmark. After this she trained as a photographer in Århus and worked in Denmark for a few years. In 1892 she became a member of Dansk Fotografisk Forening.

She was probably already working as a photographer in Tórshavn in the 1880s. Initially in her childhood home in Mortansstova, then later at Niels Finsens gøta 14, the house on the corner of Niels Finsens gøta and Bøkjarabrekka. Many came to have their picture taken in her iconic studio. Elsa lived in the same house. She retired in 1914.

During her career she also took part in exhibitions. In 1895 her work was featured at the ‘Women’s Exhibition from Past and Present’ in Copenhagen. Her pieces included depictions of farmer Jóannes and teacher Effersøe. It was Theresa Buchwaldt, wife of the County Commissioner in the Faroe Islands, who arranged for the inclusion of exhibition pieces from the Faroe Islands.

Her first marriage was to the Dane Nicolai Eeg Pommerencke, who was a merchant; she was therefore also known as Elsa Pommerencke. In 1893 she married Hans Christian Petersen, who was head teacher at the public school. The spouses were childless and Elsa left the old age home in Torshavn DKK 5000 in her will.

Sources

Hansen, Steffen Stummann. Kvindelige Pionerer. Et Bidrag til Fotografiens tidlige Historie på Færøerne. 2018. Jelling.

Joensen, Absalon. Else Birgithe Petersen f. Debes. In: Dimmalætting 7th January, 1928. Tórshavn.

Johannessen, Birgar. Havnin – fólk og yrki 1900-1939. 2007. Tórshavn.

Olsen. In: Føringatíðindum 18th July, 1895. Tórshavn.

South Streymoy Parish Register. Births girls 1854, p. 47.