Art Critics. Study

Michael Ancher made several studies for his painting Kunstdommere (Art Critics), which belongs to The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark. While this large study only features Laurits Tuxen and P. S. Krøyer, the final work pictures two additional artists: Holger Drachmann and J. F. Willumsen. The artists are sitting in Krøyer's Studio in Skagen's Museum's garden. Behind the artists, you can just make out a bit of the wall decoration that Krøyer and Swedish painter Oscar Björck made when the old grain-drying warehouse was turned into a studio for Krøyer in 1884. We do not know which work the artists are assessing and passing judgement on, but they appear to be very relaxed about the whole situation, as both Tuxen and Krøyer are reclining casually. This is a great self promotion on the part of the artists, but Ancher would have painted the picture with an affectionate twinkle in his eye, as the elderly gentlemen in their stylish clothes whom Ancher painted here are a far cry from the young, innovative and at times provocative artists of the 1870s and '80s. The artists had themselves become a part of the bourgeoisie against which they had, to some extent, rebelled. This piece of art is from the collection of our favourite museum in Denmark, Skagens Museum. Don't forget to follow them on Instagram @skagensmuseum :))