The summer at Aulestad 1901

The summer of 1901 was a unique summer at Aulestad - exactly as Karoline and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson had dreamed it: a place for gathering family and artist friends.

All five children were present, with sons- and daughters-in-law, and not least grandchildren.

International guests

Among them was the youngest daughter Dagny and her husband who also was her father's German publisher and editor of the satirical magazine Simplicissimus. Along with them came the artist Steinlen who painted several portraits of Dagny this summer, in addition to his characteristic cats which he painted on the fireplace at Aulestad.

Immortalized summer party

The Danish artist Krøyer was present to portray Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson on commission from his Danish publisher Hegel. As a token of gratitude, Krøyer immortalized a summer party at Aulestad with fifteen festive guests around the table. An international salon far north - off the beaten track.

The exhibition shows several of the artworks that were painted this summer at Aulestad, in addition to a presentation of the artistic and political environment surrounding Dagny and her husband Albert Langen, the satirical magazine Simplicissimus and of course the Swiss-French cartoonist and painter Théophile Alexandre Steinlen whom they invited on their trip to Norway summer 1901. They planned to visit Aulestad for two weeks, but it ended up being almost four months.

Dagny Bjørnson's hiding place

In addition to the exhibition, a film is shown that takes as its starting point the convivial party at Krøyer's pastel, with a particular focus on the youngest daughter Dagny, who we follow up to her secret hiding place on the third floor. Her little dollhouse apartment "Kassa" has never before been shown to the public.