Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach

"Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach" is a celebrated painting by Peder Severin Krøyer, completed in 1893. Often regarded as one of his masterpieces, this artwork captures the mesmerizing light and serene atmosphere of Skagen’s beaches, a frequent subject for the Skagen Painters, a Danish artist community.

Krøyer, originally from Stavanger, Norway, grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark. He became a key member of the Skagen Painters, an artists' colony in the Danish village of Skagen, where members would gather each summer to paint. Krøyer first visited Skagen in 1882 and decided to settle there permanently in 1889 after marrying Marie Triepcke, becoming a central figure in the group.

The inspiration for "Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach" came from a beach stroll that Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer took after a dinner party in the summer of 1892. It was later revealed in 1990 that Krøyer had based the painting on photographs he had taken, highlighting his interest in photography. By September 1893, Krøyer had completed the full-size painting, beautifully illustrating Skagen's Southern Beach during the enchanting blue hour of the evening.

Krøyer's style was influenced by Impressionism, which he encountered during his travels in France, although he developed a distinctive style of his own. He was renowned for his beach scenes, depictions of fishermen, and vibrant portrayals of artists' gatherings.

The painting was once owned by opera singer Lilli Lehmann before being purchased by Axel Springer in 1978. In 1986, Springer's widow donated the painting to the Danish people in honor of the 1943 rescue of Danish Jews from the Nazis. Today, the painting is proudly displayed at Skagens Museum.

In November 2012, one of the preparatory studies for this masterpiece was auctioned by Sotheby's for a significant sum, underscoring the enduring interest and value of Krøyer's work.