Edvard Munch’s life in Åsgårdstrand

Out of all the places Edvard Munch lived and worked, Åsgårdstrand is probably the place where he left the biggest mark. Here you will find the only home preserved after his passing, and the landscape can easily be identified in his art.

Edvard Munch's life in Åsgårdstrand

In the summer of 1885, Edvard Munch vacationed in Borre in Vestfold, and also took the trip to Åsgårdstrand five kilometers further south, where his painter friend Hans Heyerdahl spent his holiday.

In Åsgårdstrand, Munch met Milly Thaulow, and began a relationship with her. In Munch’s literary sketches one can read about secret encounters, stormy infatuation, jealousy and anguish. These experiences are often linked to the artist’s various love motifs from the seafront.

Although the affair with Milly eventually ended, Åsgårdstrand became a permanent summer residence for Munch, and in 1898 – when he was 34 years old – he bought his first property there. To visitors, it may seem as if time has stood still in the well-preserved, yellow-painted wooden house.

Edvard Munch spent most of his time in Åsgårdstrand between 1889 and 1905. He continued to come back for longer and shorter periods of time after 1905, but not as often as before. The house continued to be in his ownership until he died in 1944.

Watch the video for a tour in Munch's life in Åsgårdstrand :

"Munchs hus – Lidenskap og ly i Åsgårdstrand". Kilde: Munchmuseet.no/YouTube.