The exhibition will go on display at the gallery from the 4th November until the 8th March 2026.
This winter, the Dulwich Picture Gallery will present Anna Ancher: Painting Light, an exhibition dedicated to Anna Ancher (1859 – 1935), one of the women of her era to achieve widespread recognition for her work.
The display will bring together rarely seen studies discovered in Ancher’s home with a wide selection of works spanning her remarkable career. It will feature over 40 paintings – among them several of her most celebrated masterpieces, such as The Maid in the Kitchen (1883 – 1886), on loan from The Hirschsprung Collection, and Interior. Brøndum’s Annex (c. 1916), on special loan from Skagens Museum.
Though widely known in Denmark, Ancher remains relatively unknown to British audiences, with this exhibition will offer a rare opportunity to experience her intimate paintings, revealing her pioneering use of colour and masterful ability to capture light, firmly positioning her among the leading artists of the late nineteenth and early 20th century.
Considered to be a key voice in the Scandinavian ‘Modern Breakthrough’ movement, Ancher sought to depict everyday life with honesty and authenticity. She was a central figure among the Skagen Painters, a community of artists who settled in the remote fishing village of Skagen at the northernmost tip of Denmark. Nearly all of Ancher’s works depict scenes around Skagen, and she frequently used locals as models.
This display will also include a small selection of works by Ancher’s female contemporaries: Marie Luplau (1848-1925), Emilie Mundt (1842-1922), Marie Sandholdt (1872-1942) and Louise Bonfils (1856-1933). These works are being loaned specially by comedian, author and broadcaster, Sandi Toksvig, who champions Danish women’s art of this period.
Anna Ancher: Painting Light is curated by Helen Hillyard, Head of Collection, Dulwich Picture Gallery, in partnership with Skagens Museum. Talking about the news, Helen Hillyard, Curator of Anna Ancher: Painting Light and Head of Collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery, said: “Unlike many female painters of her generation, Anna Ancher was never ‘lost’ to art history. Nevertheless, she has not yet received the international recognition that she deserves. Her works are so captivating, you cannot help but be drawn into her world.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/anna-ancher-painting-light/