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Ludvig KarstenRestless

A colourful encounter with a rebellious figure in Norwegian modern art.
Two people walking through an exhibition, smiling as they look at paintings by Ludvig Karsten. Photograph.
© Photo: Ove Kvavik, Munchmuseet

Exhibition

Floor 9
Until 15.03.2026
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Ludvig Karsten (1876–1926) was a restless artist, both in life and on the canvas. A frequent traveller, he moved among a wide social network. His restlessness was expressed in both his constantly changing artistic styles, and the free, energetic brushwork and innovative use of colour which characterise many of his works.  

Featuring more than 70 paintings, Restless is the most wide-ranging presentation of Karsten’s painting since 1922. As well some of his better-known works, the exhibition includes several paintings from private collections which have rarely been displayed in public.

Here you can see intimate interiors and still lifes, portraits of friends, family and celebrities of the age, so-called ‘paraphrases’ of old masters such as Rembrandt and Watteau, naked bodies and idyllic landscapes. As well as the private loans, the works are drawn from the Stenersen collection at MUNCH, National Museum, Kode, Lillehammer Art Museum, Trondheim Art Museum, Grieg Art Collection, Statens Museum for Kunst and Ystads konstmuseum.  

Embracing change and exploring your own identity has become a natural part of being human today. That’s why Karsten’s restless stylistic changes and his entire artistic output might seem more recognisable to us than in the artist’s own lifetime.  

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Inclusive and accessible art experiences for all.

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A person lies in a bed with a red blanket over them. On the bedside table to the left is a half-full bottle with a dark red liquid. Painting.
Ludvig Karsten, Sick, 1901, oil on canvas. Private Collection
Two people looking at works by Ludvig Karsten. Closest to the camera, a woman is viewing the painting Reclining Nude. Photograph.
Photo: Ludvig Karsten, Munchmuseet
A woman lies on her side with her back towards us. She is positioned diagonally in the painting, with her feet in the lower left corner and her head in the upper right corner. Painting.
Ludvig Karsten, Reclining Nude, 1909, oil on canvas. Private Collection. Photo: Øystein Thorvaldsen
A table with a red cloth featuring white details. On the table are bottles and glasses, along with a yellow cane and a brown brimmed hat with a light hatband. Painting.
Ludvig Karsten, Still Life with Hat and Walking Stick, 1912. Private Collection

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