Vikingen is a former Norwegian satirical magazine, published from 1862 to 1932. It was founded by printer Henning Tønsberg

Henning Tønsberg

Henning Heyerdahl Tønsberg jr. was a Norwegian mountain climber, photographer, ski jumper and pharmacist.As a ski jumper, he won the competition in Solbergbakken, Hannibalbakken and the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in 1927. He won Galdhøpiggrennet in 1934. In June 1936, he participated the expedition...

. Among the contributors were the satirical illustrators Olaf Krohn

Olaf Krohn

Olaf Krohn was a Norwegian satirical illustrator, educated as painter.He is particularly known for his illustrations in the satirical magazine Vikingen. He published the series Theaterkatten from 1897 to 1929. Among his other publications are Joujou; aarsrevue med vers from 1886, and...

, Andreas Bloch

Andreas Bloch

Andreas Bloch was a Norwegian painter, illustrator and costume designer.-Personal life:Andreas Schroeter Schelver Bloch was born on the Hellerud farm in in Skedsmo, in Akershus county, Norway, as the son of Jens Peter Blankenborg Bloch and Anne Julie Margrethe Schroeter. He was married in 1890...

, Gustav Lærum

Gustav Lærum

Gustav Lærum was a Norwegian satirical illustrator and sculptor.He delivered illustrations to the satirical magazines Korsaren, Tyrihans and Vikingen, and also the newspaper Verdens Gang. Selected illustrations are issued in Fra Uret til Grand, Norske Politici , and Skyggebilder...

 and Olaf Gulbransson

Olaf Gulbransson

Olaf Leonhard Gulbransson was a Norwegian artist, painter and designer. He is probably best known for his caricatures and illustrations.-Biography:...

.

History

The weekly comic magazine Vikingen was established in Kristiania in 1862. The first issue was published on 4 October 1862. In the beginning the magazine had only 11 subscribers, but the magazine attracted some attention and it soon became an important, if not exactly serious, organ of public debate, humour and satire. Contemporary celebrities was frequently portaited.

Among the first frequently parodied persons in the magazine columns, was the young playwright Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...

. He strongly disliked being a subject of rumors.

The witty convenience magazine was founded by the book printer Henning Tønsberg

Henning Tønsberg

Henning Heyerdahl Tønsberg jr. was a Norwegian mountain climber, photographer, ski jumper and pharmacist.As a ski jumper, he won the competition in Solbergbakken, Hannibalbakken and the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in 1927. He won Galdhøpiggrennet in 1934. In June 1936, he participated the expedition...

, with the three study mates Johan Ludvig Vibe

Johan Vibe

Johan Vibe was a Danish-Danish military officer and engineer, who was appointed Governor-General of Norway by the Danish crown from 10 April 1708 until his death.-Biography:...

, Johan Schønheyder and Olaf Skavlan

Olaf Skavlan

Olaf Skavlan was a Norwegian literary historian and playwright.-Personal life:He was born as Ole Skavlan in Stranda as a son of vicar and politician Aage Schavland and his wife Gerhardine Pauline Bergh...

 as editors. To keep the writers' identity hidden, editorial meetings were held in secret at a back room of Jacob L'Orsas Café. The first illustrator was August Schneider

August Schneider

Gerhard August Schneider was a Norwegian artist and collector of folk tales. -Biography:August Gerhard Schneider was born in Flekkefjord in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway....

. He was many years later followed by the likes of Olaf Krohn

Olaf Krohn

Olaf Krohn was a Norwegian satirical illustrator, educated as painter.He is particularly known for his illustrations in the satirical magazine Vikingen. He published the series Theaterkatten from 1897 to 1929. Among his other publications are Joujou; aarsrevue med vers from 1886, and...

, Andreas Bloch

Andreas Bloch

Andreas Bloch was a Norwegian painter, illustrator and costume designer.-Personal life:Andreas Schroeter Schelver Bloch was born on the Hellerud farm in in Skedsmo, in Akershus county, Norway, as the son of Jens Peter Blankenborg Bloch and Anne Julie Margrethe Schroeter. He was married in 1890...

, Gustav Lærum

Gustav Lærum

Gustav Lærum was a Norwegian satirical illustrator and sculptor.He delivered illustrations to the satirical magazines Korsaren, Tyrihans and Vikingen, and also the newspaper Verdens Gang. Selected illustrations are issued in Fra Uret til Grand, Norske Politici , and Skyggebilder...

 and Olaf Gulbransson

Olaf Gulbransson

Olaf Leonhard Gulbransson was a Norwegian artist, painter and designer. He is probably best known for his caricatures and illustrations.-Biography:...

.