Titled simply Oslo, this 1955 pictorial map captures the Norwegian capital at a buoyant moment of post‑war renewal and cultural pride. Commissioned by Fellesbanken and crafted for English‑speaking visitors, it blends cartographic clarity with exuberant illustration—mountains and fjord rendered in vibrant mid‑century color, landmarks spotlighted with affectionate detail. Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, renowned for thematic maps, turns the city into a living panorama, where civic icons, waterfront bustle, and wooded heights converse across the sheet. The result is not only a guide to streets and sights, but a portrait of Oslo’s personality: maritime yet modern, intimate yet expansive, and poised between royal avenues, working quays, and the evergreen drama of the surrounding hills and forests.

At the city’s heart, the ceremonial axis of Karl Johans gate unfurls from the Royal Palace to the Central Station, a grand promenade punctuated by the National Theatre, the Storting, and Oslo Cathedral. Around it, a fine mesh of streets—Akersgata, Storgata, Torggata, Brugata, and Dronningens gate—anchors the commercial core and the Renaissance grid of Kvadraturen. Reenskaug’s harbor is alive with ferries and freighters, a nod to the city’s lifeblood; Akershus Fortress surveys the quays, while City Hall’s twin towers—new symbols of civic confidence—rise over Rådhusplassen. The map’s pictorial boats, banners, and bustling piers evoke the Oslo Fjord as stage and thoroughfare, making this an especially compelling city map for orienting newcomers at a glance.

Beyond the downtown grid, the map celebrates neighborhoods and green spaces that define Oslo’s character. Parkveien skirts embassy gardens toward Majorstuen, while Ullevålsveien and Kirkeveien trace arcs around St. Hanshaugen and Frogner, leading the eye to Vigeland’s famed sculpture park. Bislett is flagged for its storied stadium, and Grünerløkka’s industrial past is hinted along the Akerselva, with Trondheimsveien radiating eastward. In Gamlebyen, Oslo gate signals medieval roots, ruins, and ramparts; Åkerbergveien points toward Tøyen’s gardens, and the city’s artistic soul is echoed in Edvard Munchs gate. Even lesser‑known lanes—Munkerudveien and Valderhauggata—appear as quiet threads tying hilltop suburbs to the inner city, proof of a map attentive to texture as well as headline sights.

Nature and culture share the foreground in Reenskaug’s scheme. The Oslo Fjord gleams with illustrated waterways and boats weaving to island specks and the museum‑rich Bygdøy peninsula, while the dark greens of Nordmarka sweep down from the north. Holmenkollen’s ski jump stands like a beacon on the skyline; Ekeberg’s ridge offers a scenic overlook; and pockets of forest, meadows, and shoreline are enlivened by local flora and fauna. The ring of thoroughfares—Ringveien, Kirkeveien—binds hill, harbor, and neighborhood; Sukkerbiten and the working quays attest to a maritime economy in full stride. It is a city map that breathes: one where waterways guide the visitor as surely as streets do, and where topography is part of the urban story.

Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s specialized in transforming geography into narrative, and this commission demonstrates why. Designed for travelers, the map pairs lucid orientation with charming pictorial cues—cultural icons, historic buildings, and scenic vignettes—so an English‑speaking visitor can decode Oslo’s essence instantly. As a mid‑century promotional work for Fellesbanken, it reflects the optimism of 1950s tourism: accessible, welcoming, and proud of both heritage and modernity. Its companion street plan on the reverse underscores its practical intelligence. Above all, it stands as a notably successful city map because it marries wayfinding to wonder, distilling royal avenues, working harbors, and forested heights into a single, memorable image of place.

Streets and roads on this map

• Akersgata
• Bislett
• Brugata
• Dronningens gate
• Edvard Munchs gate
• Karl Johans gate
• Kirkeveien
• Munkerudveien
• Oslo gate
• Parkveien
• Ringveien
• Storgata
• Sukkerbiten
• Torggata
• Trondheimsveien
• Ullevålsveien
• Valderhauggata
• Åkerbergveien

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Illustrations of historical landmarks
• Iconic buildings and monuments
• Representations of local flora and fauna
• Illustrations of waterways and boats
• Sites of natural beauty such as hills or forests
• Cultural icons related to Oslo

Historical and design context

• Year created: 1955
• Created for Fellesbanken; aimed at English-speaking visitors; includes a street map of the city on the reverse side
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Bjarne H. Reenskaug A.s, who specialized in thematic maps with artistic elements
• Thematic, pictorial approach showcasing places of interest via illustrations of nature, landmarks, and cultural elements
• Vibrant colors and artistic illustrations typical of mid-20th-century pictorial maps
• Promotional piece reflecting 1950s tourism trends, post-war optimism, and cultural pride

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.