Lappen zeichnen ihr Leben - "In kupfer geschnitten von einen Lapplander"

Gustav Hagemann

German printmaker Gustav Hagemann created a series of drypoints titled "Lappen zeichnen ihr Leben" (Lapps Draw their Lives) after drawings done by Lapp (now known by their traditional name, SámiSápmi), between 1926-1939 when the outbreak of WWII put an end to his travels for nearly two decades.

Interestingly, the secondary title of this piece translates to "Cut in copper by a Lapplander", making one wonder if Hagemann invited the Sámi artists to directly etch the plate themselves, rather than himself. Either way, these etchings are extraordinary depictions of everyday life in the Sámi villages of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia at a time when few people ventured so far north for their art. The plates primarily depict reindeer herders and fishermen, but some also include records of traditional clothing and the everyday lives of entire families.

The full portfolio of Sápmi images first was shown at Galerie Ferdinand Möller in Berlin 1938. The printing was done by German Master Printer Otto Felsing, Kathe Kollwitz's preferred printer. This image depicts a Sámi tent and domestic activities, with reindeer and sleighs being prepared for an excursion.