Denmark Means Art: Part 2

We began our trip north to SKAGEN with a ferryboat ride across Randers Fjord to Mellerup:

Bolgen by Nils Sloth, 2004

and then another from Egense to Hals:

We enjoyed very much the drive through town and country, with an occasional sculpture needing to have its picture taken.

Thor

Vaern by Thomas Andersson, 1997

Followed the Eastern shore through Frederikshavn and up to Skagen. Both sides of the road were lined with the most beautiful green fields, mostly of rye, I think. The green was enhanced by an under, or rather, inner layer of yellow that made the fields glow. Just before Skagen we drove through an area of high dunes that was total unworldly, but tough to photograph while driving. And then we were in Skagen.

Once a remote fishing village, Skagen has been a tourist destination since the railroad came to town in 1890. Before that, it was discovered by Michael Anchen who turned it into an artists colony. Before we began exploring we stopped for lunch at a little restaurant called Skaw Grillen (Skaw being the same as Skagen). We stayed and had the Stjerneskod (means 'Shooting Star') served smorgasbord with a piece of fried Plaice, Remoulade sauce, shrimp, white asparagus, and topped with caviar.

I should also mention that all the buildings in Skagen are painted the same shade of yellow: Skagen Yellow. That’s how you order it. Like Williamsburg Blue. And most of the buildings are the same shape, so it was very easy to miss a turn and lose one’s way among the little yellow houses. We did, however, eventually find our way to the Skagen Museum.

Danish Fisherman and Rescuer by Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen

2 x Jacobsen by Robert Jacobsen, 1990-91

This was done by Robert Jacobsen to recognize both himself and the artist Egill Jacobsen.

The grounds of the Skagen Museum include the refurbished studios and homes of Michael and Anna Ancher who founded a school of Art here, and P.S. Krøyer, an enigmatic personality and skilled painter who spent time in Paris with the Impressionists before becoming part of the Skagen inner circle. The light of Skagen was magnetic so artists began to summer there to paint en plein air, and some settled there.

Michael Ancher, 1872

Michael Ancher (1849-1927) stayed at the Brondums Hotel when visiting Skagen in the 1870s. Brondums Hotel The daughter of the owner, was a skilled artist named Anna.

Anna Kirstine Ancher (1859-1935)

The rest is history.

Ancher Studio now:

Michael Ancher and P.S. Køyer by Professor L. Tuxen

Hip, Hip, Hooray by Peder Severin Krøyer, 1888

(left to right) Martha Johansen, Viggo Johansen, Christian Krohg, P.S. Krøyer, Degn Brøndum (Anna Ancher's brother), Michael Ancher, Oscar Björck, Thorvald Niss, Helene Christensen, Anna Ancher and Helga Ancher (Anna and Michael´s daughter).