A total of 86 portraits of famous Norwegian cultural personalities hang on Theatercafé's fabled walls. What they all have in common is that they have been loyal guests of the house over the years.
It was founder Caroline Boman Hansen who came up with the idea and bought the first 30 portraits from painter Henrik Lund, who had drawn his café friends. Authors, writers, actors, painters, musicians and composers are portrayed.
Most of the portraits are by Henrik Lund, Gösta Hammarlund, Pedro and Ulf Aas. There are also works by Finn Graff, Nils Aas, Per Palle Storm, Anne Raknes, Knut Hermod Knudsen, Kristoffer Sinding Larsen, Jukon Gjelseth, Odd Nerdrum, Esther Maria Bjørneboe, Arild Midthun and Esra Caroline Røise.
The first portraits were hung on the walls of Theatercaféen in 1924, and the first portrait hanging ceremony took place after closing time one evening, with only a few people present. This was the largest group of pictures to be hung at a time, but the most unpretentious of all the ceremonies. There are now a total of 86 portraits on the walls of Theatercaféen, and the portrait hanging ceremony has grown into an event.
