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Blonde

© Elin Berge

Throughout history, in art, literature and popular culture blonde has never been a mere colour. For thousands of years it has been an obsession and a signal in code, signifying beauty, sex, status and power. The duality of the blonde as either erotic symbol or pure virginity leaves no golden haired woman unaffected. She must be prepared to handle people’s expectations and prejudices. Elin Berge has made a journey in the steams of the hydrogen peroxide, meeting the everyday women behind the myth of the Scandinavian blonde.


There is a text ready, analyzing the blonde hair in a cultural history aspect, written by acclaimed Swedish journalist Lars Berge, originally published as a cover story for Svenska Dagbladet’s cultural weekly. With Elin’s pictures as a starting point it investigates the blonde history – a journey through sex, violence and liberation.

text and images © ELIN BERGE

click the link to view the complete set of images in the archive

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