Curatorial notes
Anna Ancher painted this domestic scene with oil on canvas, though the exact date of its making is unknown. I love how the painting seems to vibrate with warmth from the yellow tones radiating through the open doorway. It gives a sense of home as a lived-in space where art is part of life. Looking at the paint, Ancher’s marks are visible. They don’t try to hide their tracks, and you can see a real joy in the application of the paint, particularly in the green patterned wallpaper. The shadows feel thick and almost crusty, which is offset by the lighter, thinner washes of colour within the doorways. The slippers abandoned on the wooden floor feel casually placed, but they are also carefully observed. I see influences of Hammershøi in the arrangement of architectural space and the interplay of light and shadow. Like all great painting, Ancher’s work reveals the ongoing conversation of art, a constant back-and-forth of ideas across generations.