Artists’ luncheon at Brøndum’s Hotel 1883

Peder Severin Krøyer captured this convivial scene at Brøndum’s Hotel with oil on canvas. Here we find a gathering of artists around a table, a setting rich with symbolic potential. The table itself, laden with food and drink, mirrors the Last Supper, yet here the atmosphere is far from solemn. Instead, we witness a celebration of camaraderie and creative exchange. The bottles and glasses scattered across the table suggest a loosening of inhibitions, a state conducive to artistic inspiration. Note the figure with the rifle, reminiscent of depictions of Saint Sebastian, yet transposed into this modern context. He stands, a protector of the creative spirit. Through time, we can see how symbols evolve to reflect new realities, constantly reshaping themselves. The collective unconscious, a reservoir of shared human experiences, influences these enduring symbols. Krøyer taps into this reservoir, offering a glimpse into the life of images and the cyclical nature of cultural memory.