Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Anna Riwkin-Brick (1908–1970) was a fearless pioneer in Swedish photography, capturing the world through her lens. Whether portraying celebrities or photographing the native Sami people, she made an impact.
Born to a Jewish family in today's Belarus, Anna moved to Sweden with her parents in 1915. Already at the age of 21, she had her own photo studio in Stockholm – rare for a woman at that time.
From the early 1950s until the final years of her life, Anna collaborated with Astrid Lindgren in creating ‘Children of the World’, a series of photo books for children, featuring her photos of children from northernmost Sweden all the way to Ethiopia.
Anna believed in the power of photography to bring people closer together.
This year, Sweden celebrates 250 years of Jewish life. It's an opportunity to recognise the Jewish minority and Jewish cultural heritage in Sweden.
Photos: Anna Riwkin/Moderna Museet Stockholm [1–2, 4–6, 9–10, 12–16, 18–23]. Anna Riwkin-Brick/Judiska museet [3, 7, 11, 17], Lennart af Petersens/Stadsmuseet i Stockholm [8]
Music: Waltz for Fryderyk and George – Beyza/Epidemic Sound
Anna Riwkin-Brick (1908–1970) was a fearless pioneer in Swedish photography, capturing the world through her lens. Whether portraying celebrities or photographing the native Sami people, she made an impact.
Born to a Jewish family in today's Belarus, Anna moved to Sweden with her parents in 1915. Already at the age of 21, she had her own photo studio in Stockholm – rare for a woman at that time.
From the early 1950s until the final years of her life, Anna collaborated with Astrid Lindgren in creating ‘Children of the World’, a series of photo books for children, featuring her photos of children from northernmost Sweden all the way to Ethiopia.
Anna believed in the power of photography to bring people closer together.
This year, Sweden celebrates 250 years of Jewish life. It's an opportunity to recognise the Jewish minority and Jewish cultural heritage in Sweden.
Photos: Anna Riwkin/Moderna Museet Stockholm [1–2, 4–6, 9–10, 12–16, 18–23]. Anna Riwkin-Brick/Judiska museet [3, 7, 11, 17], Lennart af Petersens/Stadsmuseet i Stockholm [8]
Music: Waltz for Fryderyk and George – Beyza/Epidemic Sound
