Named and built after the Norwegian symbolist painter Edvard Munch, the Munch Museum (or Munchmuseet) first opened its doors in 1963 to commemorate what would have been the painters 100th birthday. It contains 1,200 paintings, 4,500 drawings, 18,000 prints, and 6 sculptures, watercolors, and graphic art, all bequeathed to the city of Oslo upon Munch’s death.
The museum also contains less conventional pieces of Munch’s artwork, including lithographic stones, etchings, and woodcut plates, as well as newspaper cutouts, books, and other information about the artist, further encapsulating the full career of the adored artist.
Whether you’re a fanatic or just interested in Munch’s work, you can take the experience home with you at the museums souvenir shop, complete with books, posters, shirts, and catalogs.
The exhibition space totals a very spacious 12,380 square feet, which includes a lecture hall that is used for various functions including temporary exhibits. For a more interactive experience, guests are free to check out available audioguides, guided tours, concerts, lectures, and screenings; all available for a nominal fee. Note that guided tours in English occur only once a day at 1pm during July and August.
The museum is beautifully located at the south side of Oslo’s Botanic Garden, and near the Zoologisk Museum, making it a convenient location for other city attractions. You can take either the Metro to Tøyen, the 17 tram to Lakkegata skole, or easily drive to nearby parking.
