Much has been said about Edvard Munch, one of the most famous Norwegian artists, and many people that visit Oslo, pay respect to the artist by visiting his museum in Bjørvika area, but what many people don’t know is that Munch spent most of his childhood and final days all around Oslo.
Although Munch was born in 1863. in the village of Ådalsbruk in Løten, some our and half a drive north from Oslo, when his father got a job as a medical officer in the Akershus fortress, the whole family moved to Christiania (now Oslo).
At first, they lived in Nedre Slottsgate 9, but soon they moved to Pilestredet 30.
Very soon as the Munch family moved into the building Edvards mother, Laura, died of tuberculosis. Edvard was just five years old.
From 1875. until 1877. the Munch are living at Thorvald Meyers gate 48 in Grünerløkka, soon to be moved in Fossveien 7 where they staid until 1882.
While living there Munch sister Johanne Sophie dies from the same death illness as their mother. This tragic moment in Munch life is depicted in a painting named Death in the sick room from 1893.
For a while the family used to live just two numbers down in the same building block in Fossveien 9 and it's interesting to notice that many houses in Olaf Ryes plass 4 where Munch used to live also (the family moved a lot if you did't get the picture :)) looks very much the same as when young Munch was living there from 1882. until 1883.
The final Munch home, that he used to share with his family from 1885 until 1889., was just a block further down the street in Schouss plass 1. Once there used to be a coffee shop named after the painter but now there's a coffee/tea shop/bar that belong to Stockfleths chain, founded in 1895.
After years in Paris and Berlin, Munch returned in Kristiania in 1897., and in 1916., already well known and rich he bought an estate outside the city where he remained until his death in 1944. From the original house estate, only his winter atelier survived and it’s now available for visitations during the summer and autumn.
If you're wandering where Munch is buried, it’s just few blocks from where he used to live as a child.
His grave with a head bust can be found at Vår Frelsers Gravlund only ten minute short walk from Mathallen where we meet for our Street food tour, so come join us and we can rediscover some of Munch's old living locations.