At the grocery store, when there is no fishing 1882

Peder Severin Krøyer painted this oil on canvas, "At the grocery store, when there is no fishing", sometime in the late 19th century. The scene depicts a group of fishermen gathered in a dimly lit grocery store, likely in Skagen, Denmark, during a period when they couldn't fish. Krøyer was a prominent member of the Skagen Painters, a community of Danish and Scandinavian artists who settled in Skagen and were known for their realist depictions of everyday life. This artwork is a great illustration of their commitment to capturing the realities of working-class life, as well as a window into the social structures of the late 19th century. It's interesting to consider how this artwork may critique or comment on the social structures of its time. The image seems to speak to the uncertainty of life in the fishing trade and the importance of community support. To understand this artwork better, we can examine historical documents, photographs, and other artworks from the period. Doing so helps us to develop a richer understanding of the social and institutional contexts in which it was made.