I have had some recent visits to my blog from people in Finland and I love that since I am half-Finn. Perhaps one of them would have information on the Privatbanken building on the left in the postcard. I wonder if the building still stands and it would be interesting to know more about the bank's history. I did find in some online research a 50-year-old company based in Norway called SEB Privatbanken that has an office in Finland, among many other countries. SEB Privatbanken is, as best I can tell, a part of EDB (Elektronisk Databehandling AS). Whether or not there is some historical link of the bank in this card to any modern banks one thing is for sure: it is a changed world.
The only information on the back of this unused card is that it is an international postcard.....no dates, descriptions, etc. That makes it all the more mysterious to me. Be sure to click on it to enlarge to pick up unique individual pieces of life taking place amidst the totality of the scene......the man napping in his boat in the right-hand corner.....the row of vendors' tents set up alongside the buildings.....the mix of ladies and gents dressed in finery with others in simple, even peasant, garb.
All in all, it seems more like a painting to me than a photograph so I changed it to fine art as a 21st Century tribute to its beauty.
Life imitates art far more than art imitates life. ~Oscar Wilde
in Finnish translation......
Elämä jäljittelee taidetta paljon enemmän kuin taide jäljittelee elämää. ~ Oscar Wilde
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it would be even nicer if it was watercolored!the images wouldve taken more life.
ReplyDeleteYou have the best postcard stories. And they always fit something that's going on. It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteA tribute to the importance of Water - still true today in so many places...
ReplyDeleteIt's a place I have always wanted to visit. Interesting that you are half-Fin.
ReplyDeleteshasha~ I agree with you. The program we have on our computer is limited and doesn't have watercoloring. Does PhotoShop? I don't know!
ReplyDeleteCitizen of Earth~ Look at your new profile pic! Love it.
You are so deep to point out what is truly key in this shot...
We need to protect the planet's water sources. Having the oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico on Earth Day couldn't have been more poignant and tragic.
Nancy~ Yup, dear old dad was first-generation American. I wasn't raised knowing that half of me and only connected in my 20s. Like you, I have an interest in visiting Finland.
I absolutely adore the old post cards!
ReplyDeletePhivos~ I am so glad that you do. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother great 'old postcard' Wednesday, Lydia! I have a couple of very good Finnish friends here in the U.S. and a few years ago, they put in an authentic Finnish sauna in their backyard. If you ever get an opportunity to experience this, you should!
ReplyDeleteMelinda
Melinda~ We have an authentic Finnish sauna in our backyard! Here is post with photos from last year. Sadly, I must admit that we don't use it much and only yesterday I told Michael I want to take a sauna soon.
ReplyDelete