No photographs available, these are imaginary portraits made with the assistance of AI, based on the photographs of their descendants 1
Niklas Kutvonen and his wife Anna lived in Vyborg in the second half of the 19th century. Niklas worked as a lamplighter, responsible for lighting and maintaining the gas street lamps throughout the city. Their days were filled with hard work and routine. Every evening, Niklas would leave the small apartment he shared with his wife and children, to begin his rounds, making sure each lamp was lit and functioning properly. He would carry his ladder and tools with him, and would often be out until late in the night. Despite the hard work, the Kutvonens were content with their lives. They were grateful to have a steady income and a roof over their heads. They lived in a small but cozy apartment in a working-class neighborhood Hiekka and they were surrounded by a close-knit community of other working families. Anna took care of the household and raised their children, Anna Maria, who sadly died in early childhood, Amanda Wilhelmina, and Alexander. She was a skilled seamstress and often took in work to supplement the family's income. She also spent time with their children, teaching them them important life skills, and instilling in them the values of hard work and responsibility. Life in Vyborg was not easy for the Kutvonens. The city was rapidly growing and changing, and they struggled to keep up with the rising cost of living. The winters were harsh and the long, dark nights could be depressing. But they had each other and the support of their community, and they were determined to make the most of it. Niklas eventually got a new better-paid job as a Vyborg town salt measurer. Unfortunately, Anna died in 1864, leaving Niklas with two children aged 5 and 7. He married Maria Kristina Myyrä, and they had five children, but only two of them, Gustaf Adolf and Aina Emilia, survived to adulthood. The years 1866-1868 are known in Finland as the Years of the Great Famine.
1 These are just fantasies how Niklas and Anna might have looked. Niklas' portrait is based on the photographs of Alexander, Martti and Petri, Anna's portrait is based on the photographs of their granddaughters Maria and Ellen, their great-granddaughter Tuula, and their great-great-granddaughter Susanna.