Anna Ancher is probably the most famous and respected Danish female artist. But, until now, there has never been an exhibition dedicated to her in the UK.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery was the first purpose-built public art gallery, opening in 1817. It’s now in a neighbourhood known for its affluent, young professional families. To that end, as I waited for the gallery to open, I overheard ‘Reuben, do you want your babyccino?!’ and ‘Indigo, are you going to have a croissant?!’

All of that feels a far cry from the subjects of some of Anna Ancher’s art.

She was born in Skagen, a small fishing village in the very north of Denmark. Her family owned a hotel there. During her life, the village became home to many artists who came to be known as the Skagen Painters.

She painted many portraits - it struck me that many of these were in profile.

Like many of the Skagen Painters, she also painted the locals of Skagen, fishermen and working women. They wanted to portray real lives as lived, a departure from the traditions of prior paintings which portrayed regal and rich families in all their finery.

The exhibition is titled Painting Light, named for Ancher’s talent at portraying light in her art - whether sun streaming through a window or a sunset reflecting on her subjects’ faces or simply sunsets.

After Anna Ancher married and had her first child, her art teacher told her she should throw her paint box into the sea. This exhibition shows we can be glad she did not.

Thank you for reading + until next time,