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Exploring the World Through the Lens of Julie Laurberg

  • kickasswomen
  • Jan 27
  • 2 min read

Image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library. Black and white image of Julie Laurberg. She is approximately middle aged, with dark hair in a professional up-style. She wears glasses and a black blouse. She is sitting behind a desk. Her head is resting on one hand, which is leaning on a pile of papers, while in her other hand she holds a cup. She is staring directly ahead and into the camera.
Julie Laurberg, image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library.

In episode 4 of Kickass Women of History, Amy and Emma are joined by Dr. Mette Krabbe Meyer of the Royal Danish Library to delve into the life and artistry of the pioneering Danish photographer Julie Laurberg. Known for her portraits, architectual images and experiments with colour, Laurberg’s work has left a lasting impact on both the Danish photographic landscape and the broader world of visual storytelling.


The Role of Archives in Understanding Laurberg’s Legacy


At the Royal Danish Library, Dr. Krabbe Meyer and her colleagues have been instrumental in cataloguing, digitising and sharing Laurberg's extensive body of work. This archive serves as a crucial resource for both scholars and art enthusiasts, providing a window into Laurberg’s artistic evolution. For example, this stunning image of roses was rediscovered through Dr. Krabbe Meyer's project, as described in the episode.



Pink roses in a clear, ornate vase on a dark background. The soft lighting enhances their delicate appearance, creating a serene mood. Image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library.
"Roses" by Julie Laurberg. Image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library.


Involvement in the Suffrage Movement


Julie Laurberg was also involved in the campaign for Danish women to have the vote. She captured portraits of many of the nation's Suffrage leaders, and when women were finally given the vote in 1915, she took her film camera to the streets of Copenhagen to capture this fantastic footage of the celebrations outside of the Royal Palace.






Franziska Gad

Probably the most important person in Julie Laurberg's life was her business and life partner, Franziska Gad. Gad started at the studio as Laurberg's apprentice, but the relationship between the two women seems to have blossomed both professionally and personally. In addition to being business partners, they lived together, and shared a holiday home. When Gad sadly passed away, newspaper obituaries described Laurberg's "incurable grief". While the term "lesbian" was not in use in Denmark at that time, all evidence suggests that they were romantically involved.




Black and white portrait of Franziska Gad. She is dressed all in black, and stands behind a large camera in a room with wooden doors. She appears focused and concentrated. Image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library.
Portrait of Franziska Gad by Julie Laurberg. Image used with permission of the Royal Danish Library.

Learn More


In addition to listening to our podcast, you can learn more by visiting the Royal Danish Library website. It hosts several blog posts about Julie Laurberg and her work, and you can access their online archive of her work. Additionally, it gives details on how to visit the Library in Copenhagen and their current exhibitions.


Episode available 18th January 2025

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