PRESS KIT 2017 PRESS KIT 2017 Skagen in Scandinavian art From the end of the 1870s and up till the turn of the century, Skagen was an inter- national venue for young artists. In common for them was that they – inspired by naturalism and plein air painting – sought for new places and motifs, and during the 1880s, Skagen turned into an artists’ colony, where there was room for both work and play. The artists’ preferred motifs included the fishermen’s work at the beach, the fishermen’s homes, the nature surrounding Skagen, and the social life among the artists. Already at that time, the Skagen painters reached high appraisal and partici- pated in large exhibitions abroad. The best-known Skagen painters are the Danish painters, Michael and Anna Anch- er and P. S. Krøyer. But artists like Holger Drachmann, who both wrote and painted, Viggo Johansen, Carl Locher, Laurits Tuxen and the Nordic artists, Christian Krohg and Oscar Björck, also contributed to putting Skagen on the map. Skagens Museum was founded in 1908, and the aim was to gather the works of the Skagen painters and to raise funds for the construction of a museum. Since 1928, the museum has been located in a building designed by architect, Ulrik Plesner. In the beautiful museum garden, you will find the Garden House, where many of the artists have been tenants, and the old grain warehouse, where Krøyer had his first studio in Skagen. The Skagens Museum was extended in 1982 and 1989, and from 2014 – 2016, the museum has been thoroughly renovated and extended, almost doubling the ex- hibition area. In 2015 the museum merged with the two artists’ homes, Anchers Hus and Drachmann’s Hus, and the collection now consists of no less than 9000 paint- ings, drawings, graphic works, sculptures and ceramics – mainly from the period 1870 – 1930. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 Two original house and studio museums Anchers Hus The artist couple, Michael and Anna Ancher, moved into the house on Markvej in 1884, when they had their only child, Helga. Today, the beautiful artists’ home creates the frames for an exciting museum that bears witness to the everyday life and the art as it was in the Ancher family. Both the house as well furnishing, paintings and other inventory appear as it did, when the family lived in the house. Michael Ancher died in 1927, and Anna Ancher died eight years later. After that time, Helga didn’t live in the house any longer, and when she died in 1964, both the building and the collection was carefully restored and opened for the public. Saxilds Gaard lies right next to Anchers Hus, and here you can experience changing exhibitions – mainly with works created by Michael, Anna and Hel- ga Ancher. In Saxilds Gaard you will also find a small museum shop as well as a charming café, Anchers café, where you can buy a cup of coffee and lovely cakes to enjoy in the surrounding garden. Drachmanns Hus Holger Drachmann was in his own time known and loved as the great Danish poet, who was highly regarded abroad as well. He was, however, educated marine pain- ter and throughout his entire life, he mastered both talents with great passion. In his posterity, he has become known as a widely travelled and colourful character, and a ladies’ man without compare. Drachmann initiated many relationships, of which three ended in marriage – first with Vilhelmine, then with Emmy and finally with Soffi. Unfortunately, he suffered from a bad health and died 61 years old in 1908, where after he was buried in the sand dunes at Grenen. The beautiful half-timbered house from 1828 created the frames for the final years of Drach- mann’s life – from 1902 to 1908. After his death, the house opened as a museum in 1911, and appears largely today as it did, when Drachmann lived there with his third wife, Soffi. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 Björck & Rantzau: Together we get somewhere 2 June 2017 – 29 December 2017 | Skagens Museum In autumn 2013, artist Jacob Rantzau (b. 1973) was granted a spe- cial residency in Krøyer’s studio in the gardens of Skagens Muse- um. This extraordinary permission was granted as he worked on two larger paintings entitled Together we get somewhere. The two pieces were inspired by the Swedish Skagen painter Oscar Björck’s painting Launching the boat. Skagen from 1884. The purposeful collaboration between the four fishermen who are launching the boat in Björck’s painting is in Rantzau’s painting transformed into a hopeless Sisyphean task – the boat will not move. Though Rantzau’s paintings are inspired by Launching the boat. Skagen, the works have not been presented together before now. The paintings are presented together with 60 of Rantzau’s sket- ches. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 Caught in the act – Axel Locher’s theatrical statuettes 16 September 2017 – 2 April 2018 | Skagens Museum The masterpiece and life’s work of sculptor Axel Locher (1879- 1941), son of the Skagen painter Carl Locher, is his series of thea- trical statuettes in plaster. Locher worked on the series for more than 25 years. The series of statues portrays the biggest talents of the Danish stage in costume. The exhibition is the largest presentation of Axel Locher’s works. Besides works from the collection of Art Museums of Skagen the exhibition contains works from The Theatre Museum at The Court Theatre in Copenhagen, Den gamle By in Aarhus, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark in Middelfart, the Royal Family and private collections. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 Michael Ancher and the women in Skagen 21 April 2018 – 26 August 2018 | Skagens Museum Danish painter Michael Ancher (1849-1927) is best known for his paintings of the fishermen of Skagen, but alongside this line of work, Ancher explored in his portraiture of women an altogether different motif. In Michael Ancher’s life size portraits of his wife, the artist Anna Ancher, he created a monument to her. In his other portraits of women, Michael Ancher explores other themes as well as a lighter palette, than we usually see in his work. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 On the palette Colours, materials and techniques of the Skagen painters 15 September – 30 December 2018 | Skagens Museum The materiality of the artworks of the Skagen painters is generally overlooked. Going beyond the surface of the canvas, this exhibiti- on explores how advances in technology and materials in the late 19th century influenced the art of the Skagen painters and brings together artworks and the tools of the artists. BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS KIT 2017 Some useful information Images Have a look at our Flickr profile: https://www.flickr.com/skagensmuseum - everything there is marked with a CC-by license and can be downloaded in high-res Follow us on social media Facebook: Skagens Museum, Anchers Hus and Drachmanns Hus Instagram: @skagensmuseum, @anchershus, @drachmannshus, @kunstkonservator Snapchat and Twitter: @skagensmuseum Locations Skagens Museum Brøndumsvej 4 DK-9990 Skagen www.skagenskunstmuseer.dk Anchers Hus Markvej 2 - 4 DK-9990 Skagen www.skagenskunstmuseer.dk/anchershus Drachmanns Hus Hans Baghs Vej 21 DK-9990 Skagen www.skagenskunstmuseer.dk/drachmannshus For more information Niels Jarler Mail: [email protected] Ph.: (+45) 8177 0923 BRØNDUMSVEJ 4 · DK-9990 SKAGEN · DENMARK · TEL: (+45) 9844 6444 · WWW.ARTSKAGEN.DK · FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION: [email protected].