Matti Saanio - "Rakentajat" (Builders)

Description:
A significant work by Matti Saanio (1925–2006), the master of Finnish social documentary photography. This print originates from his most acclaimed body of work focusing on the post-war life and reconstruction of Finnish Lapland.
​The image, titled "Rakentajat" (The Builders), was taken in the village of Koutelo, Salla. It masterfully captures the contrast between the harsh reality of labor (the man in the background) and the tenderness of childhood (the child holding a kitten in the foreground).
​Artist: Matti Saanio
​Title: "Rakentajat" (Builders)
​Location: Salla, Koutelo (Lapland, Finland)
​Technique: Vintage silver gelatin print
​Authenticity: The reverse features the artist’s original identification label with his name, the location "Salla / Koutelo," and the negative number 1762. The title is also handwritten in pencil.
​Condition: Please note a horizontal fold/crease across the middle of the sheet. This is a common occurrence in vintage prints from this era, and despite this, the photograph remains a highly collectible piece of Nordic photographic history.
​Dimensions:
​Sheet size: approx. 40 x 30 cm​"I am also submitting a second work by Matti Saanio, from his iconic Lapland series. Titled 'Rakentajat' and taken in Salla, Koutelo, this print features the artist's original identification label on the reverse (Negative no. 1762). Like the Paris print, it has a horizontal fold, but its documentary significance as a vintage Saanio print from Lapland is exceptional."