Gustav Henningsen and the documentary value of photography

Abstract

The etnographer and historian Gustav Carl Henningsen is known worldwide for his contributions in the subject of witchcraft and the Inquisition. However, photographic documentation was also very important to his professional career and research. He understood photographic documentation from the perspective of science and as an informative document to support research. This paper will present a general overview of Gustav Henningsen’s relationship with photography looking at three different areas: his work as head of the photographic archive of the Dansk Folkemindesamling [Danish Folklore Institute]; his ethnographer point of view present in his photographic work, which also served as documentary support for his works on witchcraft or popular customs; and, finally, his contribution to the diffusion of documentary material from the archives using microfilm. These topics will allow us to delve into: on the one hand, the history and formation of photographic archives, as well as the evolution of ethnographic photography in Denmark. On the other hand, learn about some projects for the diffusion of historical documentation, such as the National Historical Archive of Madrid. This will highlight the importance of pairing photography and documentation when doing research.