1904
Hans Gjesme is born on the 11th of May at Uppigarden at Voll in Lærdal
His sister Guri (b. 1901) dies

1905
His mother Elsa Voll (b. 1868) dies.
His father, Knut Gjesme (1861-1949), is left alone with Hans and his older brother Olav (1899-1979).
Hans’s aunt Brita Voll (1864-1945) gradually takes over the daily responsibility for the household

1920
Student at Pola Gauguin's painting school in Kristiania in the seasons 1920/21 and 1922/23

1921
Participation with several paintings at the “Exhibition of the Rejected” at Blomqvist art dealer in Kristiania in autumn

1925
Study trip to Paris from February to June. Studies one month at the school of André Lhote (1885-1962)

1926
Debuts at Vestlandsutstillingen, “Exhibition of Vestland and Trøndelag art”, with two pictures. It is shown in Bergen’s Art Association, Stavanger Art Association and Trondhjem’s Art Association
The painting Interior is acquired by Trondhjem's Art Association

Following an invitation from hotel owner Olaus Dahle, Gjesme lives at Hotel Mundal in Fjærland throughout the summer. There he paints portraits and landscapes

1927
Solo exhibition at Bergen’s Art Association in November with 30 paintings

1928
Solo exhibition at Aalesund’s Art Association
Solo exhibition at Trondhjem’s Art Association
Solo exhibition at Stavanger Art Association
The following autumn and winter, Gjesme lives in Østre Aker and Oslo and is mentored by Axel Revold (1887-1962), professor at the National Academy of Fine Art.
He is planning an illustrated edition of Draumkvedet, a Norwegian visionary poem probably from the end of the Middle Ages

1929
Participation at Vestlandsutstillingen (The Regional Art Exhibition of Western Norway)

1930  
In February, Gjesme exhibits c. ten pictures at Blomqvist art dealer in Oslo
Participation at the exhibition “Trøndelag and Vestland painters” at The Artist’s House in Oslo

1931   
The illustrated edition of Draumkvedet is rejected by Norges Boklag. The financial risk is too great
Solo exhibition at Bergen’s Art Association

1932  
Participation at the “Bergen painters' exhibition” at Bergen’s Art Association
Participation at Vestlandsutstillingen
Solo exhibition at Stavanger Art Association
Accepted for The National Art Exhibition – The Autumn Exhibition
Illustrations for the magazine Christmas in Sogn
Gjesme shows an interest in plaster casting

1937  
Participation at Vestlandsutstillingen with a plaster bust

1939  
Solo exhibition in April featuring 40 paintings at Bergen’s Art Association

1940   
Participates and donates work to the Bergen Artists' Aid Action for Finland in Bergen’s Art Association in March. The artworks are auctioned off
Participation at an exhibition with Vestland painters in Bergen's Art Association in August with four paintings

1941   
Participation at Vestlandsutstillingen, at Bergen’s Art Association

1942  
Participation at “The Young Artists Exhibition” at The Artists’ House in Oslo
The Heiberg Collections – Sogn Folk Museum acquire a painting
In May, Gjesme is commissioned for two projects by A/S Sambygg in Øvre Årdal: Decorating a fireplace in the engineer's cabin close to the Årdal hotel and painting a portrait of Chief Engineer Schjerven
In the summer he is in Fjærland. In September he lives near Gjøvik

1944   
Participation at the exhibition “Fjord painters” at Bergen’s Art Association in August

1945  
Aunt Brita, who has been like a mother to Gjesme, dies

1948   
Study trip to Røros.
Gjesme is looking for a studio in Oslo, without success
Participation in a touring exhibition in Sogn og Fjordane organized by the County Information Council. He is also on the selection committee for the exhibition
Participation at the Christmas exhibition at Bergen’s Art Association

1949  
Gjesme lives partly in Oslo
His father Knut dies

1951  
Solo exhibition at Bergen’s Art Association in September with 31 works: drawing, pastel, watercolour and sculpture

1954   
In the autumn, Gjesme begins to experience delusion, auditory hallucinations, and paranoid thoughts. His brother Olav takes him to the doctor in Lærdal

1955   
In January, his brother takes him to Professor Langfeldt at the psychiatric clinic in Oslo where Gjesme receives electroshock therapy.
In early December, they have to return to the doctor in Lærdal as he is still experiencing symptoms
On the 20th of December, Gjesme is forcibly admitted to the Gaustad Mental Hospital in Oslo and is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia

1956   
After many electroshock treatments in January and February, Gjesme is treated with various antipsychotic medicines
As early as March, he takes to drawing and painting again and is productive for long periods of his stay at Gaustad.
In the autumn he organizes an exhibition at the hospital where some artworks are sold

1964   
Submits two pictures to The National Art Exhibition - The Autumn Exhibition, but is rejected     

1970  
His brother Olav dies. Gjesme is allowed home on leave in August

1971  
Gjesme is permitted to stay in Lærdal in June and August.
In September he is finally discharged from Gaustad Hospital
The neighbour Anders Voll is Gjesme's guardian until September 1975

1977  
Retrospective Solo exhibition in April-May featuring 60 paintings at The Artist’s House in Oslo
In October the same exhibition is shown in Lærdal.
The Municipality of Lærdal purchases some of his work

1983  
Solo exhibition at the Øyri Gallery in Lærdal in June

1993   
Receives the Municipality of Lærdal’s Cultural Award

1994  
On the 3rd of March, Gjesme donates all his artworks to the Municipality of Lærdal
Three weeks later, on the 29th of March, Hans Gjesme dies

1998  
The Gjesme Gallery opens on the 19th of June

2011   
Sogn Art Centre – The Gjesme Collection, Lærdalsøyri opens on the 3rd of June