Artwork
An Old Fisherman's Wife
An Old Fisherman's Wife is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Anna Ancher. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1897, *An Old Fisherman's Wife* is an oil painting by Anna Ancher, a central member of the Skagen Painters. The work portrays an elderly woman from the coastal community, rendered with a focus on her expression and attire, and is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is an older woman dressed in a dark headscarf and a blue dress featuring a modest floral collar. Her face carries a serious yet slightly amused expression, and her hands rest calmly in her lap, suggesting a quiet dignity associated with the fishing families of Skagen.
Technique & Style
Ancher employs loose, visible brushwork that creates a textured surface, emphasizing the folds of the clothing and the contours of the face. The background is rendered in a light, uniform tone, allowing the figure’s dark scarf and patterned dress to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of Denmark’s national gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing the work of prominent Danish artists of the late 19th century.
Context
The work exemplifies Ancher’s interest in everyday life within the Skagen artists’ colony, a community that gathered to capture the region’s light and its inhabitants. By focusing on a local fisherwoman, the painting aligns with the group’s broader aim to document the social fabric of the coastal town.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Anna Ancher (18 August 1859 – 15 April 1935) was a Danish artist associated with the Skagen Painters, an artist colony on the northern point of Jylland, Denmark. She is considered to be one of Denmark's greatest visual artists.
