In the footsteps of Edvard Munch - Løten and Vågå
Edvard Munch maintained close ties with Løten and Vågå throughout his whole life, visiting his birthplace and his forefathers village several times, two places that have formed him as a person and as an artist.
Edvard Munch was born at Englaug Østre farm in Løten on 12 December 1863. When Edvard was only 10 months old, the family moved to Oslo. They stayed closely in touch with their friends at Englaug farm. The young Edvard spent several summer holidays at the farm. He was already good at drawing, and in his sketchbooks there are many drawings of people from the district of Løten and Hamar.
Since several generations on his father’s side had lived in Vågå, he came here as a young man to find his roots. All of these ancestors were men of high social distinction, mainly public officials and priests. Of the women, it was especially Edvard's great-grandmother Christine Storm Munch who stood out and played a big part in the family history. Portraits of Munch’s paternal great-grandparents hung in Munch’s childhood home and reminded him of his roots. There were many painters and poets in his family, and Edvard Munch himself was certain that he was continuing the legacy of his ancestors.
We will follow in the footsteps of Edvard Munch driving from Oslo to the Munch Centre in Løten, where we will have a guided tour. The museum is located at Klevfos Industrial Museum at Ådalsbruk Before having lunch at the charming Løten Railway station, we take a photo stop in front of Munch’s birthplace, Englaug Østre farm.
After lunch we are heading to Vågå, where we will spend the night at one of the charming farms or hotels. On our tour of the Munch sites around Vågå we will get insights into how he would have experienced the village, what reflections he had on his ancestors from Vågå and how these might have formed him as a person and as an artist.
The next day we will return to Oslo, having a stop at the olympic town Lillehammer where we can see several paintings of Edvard Munch at the Lillehammer Art Museum. After lunch we are heading back to Oslo.
Prices for this two day trip to Løten and Vågå will be given upon request.
For more information please contact Tour Leader Silvia C. Leine at Northway AS