Self-Portrait, Sitting by His Easel at Skagen Beach 1902

This self-portrait was painted by Peder Severin Krøyer, on location, standing by his easel at Skagen beach. Krøyer worked with confident, visible brushstrokes, and the way the marks sit on the canvas shows an understanding of artmaking as a process, full of decisions. There's a real material sense here, look at how Krøyer's used the paint to capture the textures of his clothing and skin, the way that the whites and creams of his outfit contrast with the ultramarine of the sea. It’s all about the gesture, the physical movement of paint across the canvas. Notice the way the light catches the fabric of his sleeve, the detail in his face and his ring, then think about the confidence in that brush stroke. It’s like he’s saying: "this is me, this is what I do." The brushwork reminds me of Van Gogh, with that same energy and immediacy, although Krøyer brings a cooler, Scandinavian sensibility. Ultimately, it shows how painting is always a conversation across time and place, inviting us to find our own meanings.