the meeting of two seas

Skagen hosts a beautiful luminous Nordic light that cloaks the sand dunes of the Danish fishing village. This unusual light provided much inspiration for a group of Scandinavian painters working chiefly towards the end of the 1800s. The Skagen Painters were dedicated to observing nature realistically and creating plenair paintings following the model of the School of Barbizon, on the brink of, the ensuing Impressionist movement. If you walk down to the famous spit it is possible to see the most unusual aspect of this unsupposing village: the meeting of the North Sea with the Baltic in a long line of breaking waves extending out into the sea. It is no suprise then that artists found themselves enamoured with the movement of the sea and the playfulness of the reflections on the water. The paintings featured figures merging successfully into the landscape as well as shadowy interior paintings full of bold contrasting strokes. 

A garden party. 1904. Detail. By Michael Ancher

From the moor north of SKAGEN. 1885. Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

The Artist's Wife in the Garden, By Peder Severin Krøyer

SKAGEN Hunters. Composition study. 1885. Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

Fischermen Søren Thy and Thomas Svendsen i conversation. 1911. Detail. By Michael Ancher

Playa De Skagen, 1890, Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

The Skagen painters congregated in the hotel belonging to Anna Ancher's father where they discussed their ideas and projects.They set up the charming and beautiful Skagen Museum that I visited on a whistle-stop tour of Denmark, which is worth a visit... along with the meeting of the two seas of course.

A stroll on the beach. 1896. Detail. By Michael Ancher