Børnegruppe. Portræter af fire børn ved Frokosten: Rigmor, Ingrid Regnar og Astrid Kjær 1877

Peder Severin Krøyer captured this intimate oil on canvas scene, Børnegruppe. Portræter af fire børn ved Frokosten: Rigmor, Ingrid Regnar og Astrid Kjær, portraying four children at their midday meal. The circle they form around the table is not merely a compositional choice; it is a primal symbol of unity and containment, reminiscent of ancient rituals. We see this motif echoed through time, from medieval round tables symbolizing equality to Renaissance depictions of the Last Supper emphasizing communal sharing. Here, the act of breaking bread – or in this case, sharing sandwiches – transcends the mundane, becoming a gesture laden with social and emotional significance. Observe how Krøyer uses light to emphasize the children’s faces, drawing our eye to their expressions of innocence and camaraderie. This evokes a sense of nostalgia, tapping into a collective memory of childhood as a time of unadulterated joy and connection. The symbolism of shared meals continues to evolve, resurfacing in contemporary art and culture as a potent reminder of our shared humanity.