This beautiful form of folk art was a peasant craft that emerged in the 17th Century and flourished during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Rosemaling began in southern areas where farms were more productive and where cities were influenced by European trends. Early country painters took their inspiration from paintings in the churches.

Gradually painters used these ideas to decorative walls, ceiling, furniture, trunks, bowls, etc. Hallingdal and Telemark produced the most prolific painters. In western areas, geometric designs were used for painting, carving and wood-burning. The eastern areas produced more woodcarving than painting, some of which was painted. Less painting is evident in the More and northern areas, however there was a guild in Oppdal, Trøndelag.

Rosemalers generally had their own style, yet were influenced by the area in which they lived, other painters and styles. Most painting depicted plant forms influenced by Baroque and Rococo elements. We do see the use of animals, people, and landscapes included to depict events from everyday life. The Baroque vine with flower motifs was the starting point of most rosemaling. The use of value, intensity and proportion in background and design varied from style to style, and progressed with the development through time.