Why wouldn't fathers, in general, be affectionate? The Bible (to take a very old book) if full of fatherly affection. Take the story of Abraham and his son to be sacrificed. The story has always been shocking because the reader knows the son was so wanted and loved and empathizes.
Even the prejudice isn't universal. Italians don't have this conception of cold fathers 100 years ago.
Could it be a protestant thing? Possibly except the Norwegians in this set are themselves Protestants.
I would chalk up the image of a cold, distant father, to the generational shock of 31 years of slaughter in Europe (1914-1945). Some blame Bismarck and his quest to make perfect soldiers through universal education (and the export of the Prussian model).
But, really, the past is not as bad as it is depicted. Life was tougher, but there was love, laughter, loyalty, beauty, and friendship. I suspect more so than today.
I have several family members who lived in Britain for years back in the day. They all describe the treatment of children in ways what would horrify Norwegians.
I live in an immigrant area of Oslo with many Muslims. They are known to be more strict with children. But even they remark on how strict British is. My neighbor had her daughter on exchange in Britain and her daughter describe the host family as very strict. They are not used to that behavior from growing up in Norway.
In which case, you *must* read Roald Dahl's autobiography 'Boy' (and the follow up, 'Going Solo'). He moved from Norway as a child into the English public school system, and a treatment that horrified his parents.
Incidentally, the biographies are aimed at children but very cleverly written to appeal to adults. For example, he describes a school teacher (in the 1920's) who would occasionally jump and twitch in class, making startled noises. The children found out he had something called "shell shock" and decided that this meant a shell must have exploded so close to him that he jumped so high he hadn't stopped jumping........ Interesting and funny to read as a child, but this works on another level when you read it as an adult.
British grammar school is brutal.
It’s really fascinating, but losing millions of fathers in the war and then the post trauma strict parenting have had knock on effects we are still dealing with.
They became really harsh people, and the population of most of Russia and current-day Belarus, Poland, Ukraine etc have a very characteristic attitude towards other people and countries that's completely contaminated by those memories.
As Nietzche noted - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and Poles (and Russians, Ukrainians, Belorusians) that survived the war and communism are pretty tough as a result - but at the cost of having a crushed sprit and, quite often, losing hope in humanity.
But those two photos are definitely the best for me.
In Norway, where this is from, one generally believed in milder treatment of both children and prisoners than British. Physical punishment got banned much earlier.
My mother who grew up in the 1950s Norway always describe her father as exceptionally kind. He would spend time in the basement making doll house and doll furniture for my mother and her sister.
He did not have much money but would get my mom oil paint so she could learn to paint.
If any of the boys in her street was mean to my mom or her sister, her dad would be there right on the spot.
(EDIT) Oh man there's an even more adorable pic of them rolling around too! https://www.boredpanda.com/spy-camera-secret-street-photogra...
Also, in small easter european democracies before communism, politician had to kiss kids and at least pretends he likes them. Otherwise people assumed he is bad person. They valued family a lot.
Not 100% sure either way, but that may also be his son. Young boys also wore dress-like clothing during those times.