Explore art in the wonderful capital of Oslo. The National Museum is one of the best cultural offers the city has, and it deserves your visit – they are as good as the ones in cities twice its size.
Showcasing art for almost 200 years
The National Museum was founded in 1827. It contains Norway's biggest collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures, with a total of 400,000 objects. Browse through the exhibition covering Antiquity to 1945, featuring works from Picasso, Braque, Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, and plenty of works from Norwegian artists. In the Contemporary section, established in 1988, the display depicts the art post-war focusing essentially on local artists and some internationals. Find paintings from the 50s and 60s, as well as modern video installations and photography exhibits.
The highlight
Edvard Munch is one of Norway's most famous painters. His evocative paintings dealt with psychological themes and he was one of the followers of symbolism as well as being influenced a lot by German Expressionism. The Museum holds the most important part of his collection. You will find paintings like the Madonna (1894–1895), The Girls on the Pier (around 1901), The Dance of Life (1899–1900), and The Sick Child (1885–1886). But the ultimate highlight is his well-known piece The Scream from 1893. The painting is Munch's most universally recognized work. It says so much in such a simple gesture as the silent scream – a perfect portrait of the feeling of fear. It is a piece that you will want to take your time to admire.
Coffee & Gifts
The French Salon is the Museum's café dating back to the 1920s. You must check it out if you want to take a break and grab a bite or plainly observe the beautiful marble interiors with oak wooden floors. This style was purposely designed to house a collection of French sculptures from the 17th century. In the shop, find beautiful postcards containing images of the paintings in the museum, and a wide selection of books and crafts from the own museum brand.
Good to know
Conveniently located in the city center, the National Museum is close to the Royal Palace and the National Theatre. In the area also find the Museum of Architect and Design and the History Museum. However, we do suggest that you plan your visit with time as it is worth walking around the museum for at least a couple of hours to enjoy all the magnificent exhibitions.
