Artwork
A Young Girl Preparing Chantarelles
A Young Girl Preparing Chantarelles is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Peter Ilsted. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896 by Danish artist Peter Ilsted, this oil painting captures a quiet domestic moment. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst and reflects Ilsted’s interest in everyday interior scenes rendered with an Impressionist sensibility.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a young girl seated at a modest wooden table, attentively cutting golden chanterelle mushrooms with a knife. She wears a light‑brown dress with a white collar, her hair pulled back, and a second plate of mushrooms rests on her lap, emphasizing a simple, focused activity.
Technique & Style
Ilsted employs a restrained palette of warm tones and soft illumination to convey the intimate atmosphere of a dimly lit room. Subtle chiaroscuro models the figures and objects, giving depth to the table and the girl's hands while the white wall behind her recedes into gentle shadow.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has remained in Denmark, entering the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, the nation’s principal art institution. Its provenance reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving works that illustrate everyday life in the late nineteenth century.
Context
Ilsted, better known for his etchings of interior spaces, applied similar compositional concerns to this canvas, focusing on the quiet dignity of ordinary tasks. The work aligns with broader Impressionist interests in light, atmosphere, and the fleeting moments of daily existence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Ilsted (14 February 1861 – 16 April 1933) was a Danish printmaker and painter. He was most associated with domestic interior scenes.
