Peter Freuchen and Dagmar Cohn
Peter Freuchen was a Danish explorer. Early in life, he almost died during a dog sled expedition across Greenland. He used his own feces to make a dagger to free himself from an avalanche.
During World War II, Peter fought as part of the Danish resistance to Nazi Germany, despite having lost a leg to frostbite. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death but fled to Sweden.
In 1944 he met Dagmar Cohn, a Danish fashion illustrator. He traveled extensively for work, but sent a letter home every day. Dagmar edited his travel books, including "Vagrant Viking" and "I Sailed with Rasmussen."
Dagmar's illustrations were featured in magazines including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In 1947, Dagmar illustrated the cover of Vogue, which debuted the then new couture house Christian Dior.
The couple eventually moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a consultant and scriptwriter for Arctic-related films. Peter helped write and acted in the 1933 movie “Eskimo,” which won an Oscar.
In 1956, Peter won the quiz show “The $64,000 Question.” The questions focused on ocean geography and brought him a new level of fame.
Peter died of a heart attack in 1956. His ashes were scattered on Mount Dundas in Greenland. Until her death in 1991, Dagmar continued to teach. She wrote “Cookbook of the Seven Seas,” inspired by her passion for food from around the world.
They are most remembered by this 1947 picture by Irving Penn for his series on cultural figures. He shot his subjects in unfinished studios with light coming from one direction to create an unpolished look.
“Mr. Freuchen brought the polar bear coat he had purchased in Greenland, wrapped up in a gunny sack and slung over his shoulder. Clad in this he looked like a combination of an Arctic explorer and a character from the Old Testament.” —Irving Penn