Exhibition at Drammens Museum, Drammen (NO), October 14, 2026–January 3, 2027
Exhibition opening, October 14, 2026, 6 pm
During his world trip in 1905–06, the Norwegian Eivind Eckbo spent three months in Japan. There, he visited Buddhist temples and Shinto sanctuaries, photographed everyday life, and developed a deep fascination with Japanese culture. This took place within the context of the Japonisme movement, which developed in Europe at the end of the 19th century. His fascination became a lifelong passion that is evident in his numerous photographs and a collection of Japanese art objects, including several ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock prints from the 17th to the 19th century.
Eckbo’s collection, particularly the photographs from his travels, is the focus of the Drammens Museum exhibition, Eivind Eckbo and the Japonisme Movement. The photographs are presented in the context of the general enthusiasm for collecting and the “Japan craze” of the time. A book with the same title is being published to coincide with the exhibition. It documents and explores Eivind Eckbo’s journey and his deep connection to Japanese art and culture in greater depth.
You can find more information about the exhibition and its opening here.
Caption: Eivind Eckbo, Mountain Fuji, Japan, 1906. The Eckbo Collection, Oslo. Photo: Øystein Thorvaldsen / Eckbo Collection
