Bildberättelse

Bildberättelse is a narrative form in which the story is told primarily through a sequence of images, with text used mainly to provide captions, dialogue, or context. The term is used in Swedish and refers to photo narratives, picture stories, and other forms of visual storytelling that rely on imagery to convey meaning.

Uses and formats: It appears in newspapers and magazines as photo essays or reportages, in children's picture books, in graphic journalism, and in digital media such as slideshows and social media threads. It can be documentary, fiction, or a blend; the emphasis is on the visual sequence rather than long blocks of text.

Structure and techniques: A bildberättelse is typically organized into a sequence of images or panels arranged to create a narrative arc—setup, development, and conclusion. Captions, short text, or speech balloons may accompany images to supply information, dialogue, or internal thoughts. The pacing is controlled by image size, cropping, contrast, and the order of panels.

Relation to other forms: It differs from traditional prose narratives and from graphic novels, where extensive dialogue and stylized illustration convey story; it may overlap with photojournalism and picture books. When text is minimal, the impact rests on composition, framing, and visual storytelling. In academic contexts, bildberättelse is studied under visual culture and media studies.

History: The concept has roots in 19th- and 20th-century illustrated press and photo reportage, expanding with advances in photography and publishing. The digital age has popularized bildberättelse through online photo essays, image-driven journalism, and multimedia storytelling.