Edvard Munch
Dating from the 1880s, the town had been increasingly known as an important center for artists and painters. A number of internationally noted painters has either visited or lived in the town including Edvard Munch, Christian Krogh and Hans Heyerdahl. In 1898 Edvard Munch bought a house in Åsgårdstrand where he spent the first of many summers. The house is now operated as a small museum which is associated with the Vestfold Museum ("Vestfoldmuseene").