It’s a delight to hear that the refurbished Nationalmuseet is open to visitors. And also to know that they start their new chapter than with an exhibition specially designed for children and families in a magical land of scary trolls, and mysterious animals.

One of the opening exhibitions East of the Sun and West of the Moon presents a selection of drawings by Erik Werenskiold and Theodor Kittelsen, made around 150 years ago as illustrations for Norwegian fairy tales. These stories were passed down through the generations by oral tradition until they were collected and written down by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe.

Werenskiold’s and Kittelsen’s drawings were printed in the first illustrated book of fairy tales for Norwegian children, published in Copenhagen in 1879–1887.

The museum’s collection includes close to 500 fairy tale drawings and form a central element of Norway’s cultural heritage. Many are highly sensitive to light and are therefore rarely exhibited, so it’s a delight to seem the out on display now.

Image credit: Nasjonalmuseet