Self-Portrait

P.S. Krøyer prints capture the long summer evenings of Skagen, where the sea and sky melt into soft blue. Krøyer was a Norwegian-born Danish painter and the central figure of the Skagen Painters, the artists' colony at the northern tip of Denmark. This collection gathers art prints of his moonlit beaches and strolling couples, festive artists' gatherings, portraits of friends and family, and scenes from his travels in Italy.

About Peder Severin Krøyer

Peder Severin Krøyer was born in Stavanger, Norway, on 23 July 1851. He was raised in Copenhagen by his aunt and her husband, the zoologist Henrik Nikolai Krøyer. Showing talent early, he entered the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts at twelve and finished his studies in 1870. In 1874 the tobacco manufacturer Heinrich Hirschsprung bought his first paintings, starting a lifelong patronage and friendship.

From 1877 to 1881 he traveled in Europe. In Paris he studied with Léon Bonnat and saw the work of the Impressionists. In Italy he painted Hatters in an Italian Village, a gritty scene that was admired at the Paris Salon but shocked viewers in Denmark.

After meeting Anna and Michael Ancher in Paris, he went to Skagen in 1882, and his summers there made him the center of the Skagen Painters. In 1889 he married the painter Marie Triepcke, who appears in many of his finest pictures; they divorced in 1905. From around 1900 his health declined, and he lost the sight of one eye, yet he kept painting. He died in Skagen on 21 November 1909.

Style and Subjects

Krøyer was a brilliant painter of light. His Skagen beach scenes, especially those of the "blue hour" on summer evenings, show sea, sand and sky dissolving into soft blues and silvers, with elegant figures strolling along the shore.

He also painted large, lively group portraits, from artists' parties in Skagen to the Copenhagen Stock Exchange and the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, as well as fishermen at work, portraits of friends such as Edvard Grieg, and sunlit scenes from Italy. His style combines realism with the fresh light and color of French plein-air painting.

Famous Works

• Hatters in an Italian Village (1880), Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen. A realistic workshop scene from his Italian travels.
• The Hirschsprung Family Portrait (1881), Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen. His patron's family at home.
• A Duet (1887), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. Two musicians playing together.
• Hip, Hip, Hurrah Artists' Party, Skagen (1888), Gothenburg Museum of Art. The Skagen artists raise their glasses at a summer lunch.
• Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach (1893), Skagens Museum. Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer walk along the shore in the blue evening light.
• Summer Evening at Skagen Beach – The Artist and His Wife (1899), Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen. Krøyer and Marie strolling arm in arm by the sea.
• Midsummer Eve Bonfire on Skagen Beach (1906). A crowd gathered around a bonfire on the beach.

Decorating with Krøyer Prints

Krøyer's blue-hour beach scenes are perfect for a bedroom, bathroom or coastal-style living room. Their soft blues, silvers and sandy tones create a calm, dreamy mood and look beautiful in white or light wood frames.

His festive group scenes like Hip, Hip, Hurrah bring warmth and life to a dining room or kitchen, and his portraits and Italian scenes suit a study or hallway.

FAQ

What art movement was P.S. Krøyer part of?

Krøyer was the leading figure of the Skagen Painters, a Scandinavian artists' colony influenced by French Impressionism and plein-air painting.

What is P.S. Krøyer's most famous painting?

Hip, Hip, Hurrah (1888) and his blue-hour beach scenes, such as Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach (1893), are among his best-loved works.

Where can I see Krøyer's original paintings?

The Skagens Museum in Skagen and the Hirschsprung Collection in Copenhagen hold major works. Others are at the Statens Museum for Kunst, the Gothenburg Museum of Art and Frederiksborg Castle.

How can you recognize a P.S. Krøyer painting?

Look for shimmering summer light, soft blue evening skies blending with the sea, elegant figures on the beach, and lively groups of friends in natural light.

Who were the Skagen Painters?

They were a group of Scandinavian artists who gathered at Skagen, a fishing village at the northern tip of Denmark, from the 1870s. Krøyer, Anna and Michael Ancher and Viggo Johansen were among the best known.

Related Artists

• Michael Ancher — fellow Skagen Painter who drew him to Skagen
• Anna Ancher — Skagen Painter who appears in his famous beach scene
• Viggo Johansen — fellow member of the Skagen colony
• Laurits Tuxen — Danish painter and close friend in Skagen
• Léon Bonnat — his teacher in Paris