The Benzon daughters 1897

Editor: Here we have Peder Severin Krøyer’s "The Benzon Daughters" from 1897. It’s an oil painting that just exudes… sweetness. The light is soft, the colors are muted, and the girls have such open, innocent faces. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: You know, “sweetness” is a good start, but it also feels like something more. To me, it feels like a memory, almost like the artist is trying to hold onto this fleeting moment of childhood. Do you notice how the light is almost hazy, how it softens every edge? It's very Plein-air. Editor: Definitely. I noticed the haziness too. The dresses look like they’re almost glowing. Is that typical of Krøyer? Curator: Krøyer was masterful with light, and I find the hazy lighting quite clever. It's not just about accurately representing what he saw. Look closely - Krøyer blurs the line between portraiture and a landscape. There is also an undeniable touch of melancholy. A longing for those brief years of innocent childhood! Editor: So it's like he is using Impressionism to evoke emotion and capture a particular feeling about a time. I hadn’t thought of the melancholy, but now I totally see it in their serious expressions. Curator: Exactly. You’ve hit on something important, a deep truth of human condition, where beauty and loss entwine. I do want to ask if the girl’s dresses, along with their ribbons, suggest any other observations? Editor: Their dresses give them a celestial or heavenly aspect. Are you asking me whether there is a heavenly aura surrounding childhood or not? That´s something to think about! Thanks for showing me there is so much more than just “sweetness”.