Artwork
A Little Girl, Helga Melchior, in a Long Dress
A Little Girl, Helga Melchior, in a Long Dress is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Peder Severin Krøyer. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Peder Severin Krøyer’s oil painting A Little Girl, Helga Melchior, in a Long Dress was completed in 1899. The work is a portrait of a young girl, rendered in a modest interior setting, and is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a youthful figure standing in a dimly lit room, her loose hair framing a pale, flowing dress that reaches her bare feet. She holds a small object in her left hand, while a faint light from a window or lamp hints at a distant ship beyond a dark wall, suggesting a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Krøyer employs loose, sketch‑like brushwork that softens the texture of the dress and creates a luminous quality. The background is rendered with blurred, atmospheric strokes, allowing the figure to emerge sharply from the surrounding gloom.
History & Provenance
Since its creation at the turn of the 20th century, the painting has remained in Danish public ownership, eventually entering the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed among the museum’s holdings of Danish art.
Artist & collection
