Kristiania Bohème

artists circle

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June 24, 2026

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The Kristiania Bohème was an artistic circle in Norway, led by Hans Henrik Jæger, that revolted against conventional morality. This group of urban artists and writers embraced an unconventional lifestyle, prioritizing community and artistic endeavors over societal constraints like materialism and etiquette. Jæger's novel, Fra Kristiania-Bohémen ("From Bohemian Kristiania"), published in 1885, caused a sensation by openly discussing sexual freedom and challenging societal norms. The book's confiscation and Jæger's subsequent legal troubles divided the Norwegian literary world, sparking debates about freedom of speech. The term "bohemian" itself originated from a misnomer for Roma people in France, who were perceived as living unconventional, artistic lives. This lifestyle was later romanticized and spread through literature and art, influencing movements across Europe and the United States.123

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Edvard Munch
Early years
…his artistic development was the Kristiania Bohème, a circle of writers and artists in Kristiania, as Oslo was then called. Its members believed in free love and generally opposed bourgeois narrow-mindedness. One of the older painters in the circle, Christian Krohg, gave Munch both instruction and encouragement.
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…his artistic development was the Kristiania Bohème, a circle of writers and artists in Kristiania, as Oslo was then called. Its members believed in free love and generally opposed bourgeois narrow-mindedness. One of the older painters in the circle, Christian Krohg, gave Munch both instruction and encouragement.
Read More