Kunstnerens kone, malerinden Anna Syberg, i smedens have 1910

Fritz Syberg painted this watercolor of his wife, Anna Syberg, in their garden. Both were part of the artistic community living on the island of Fyn, around the turn of the 20th century. Anna, herself a painter, is captured here in a domestic space, and yet her posture, holding what appears to be painting sticks, suggests her own artistic endeavors. The light palette evokes a sense of quiet domesticity, yet there's a subtle tension in how Anna is represented. While the artwork superficially fits into traditional representations of women within the home, it also subtly hints at Anna’s identity as a working artist. By depicting Anna in her personal space, brush in hand, Fritz acknowledges her presence in a world that wasn't always welcoming to female artists. The painting invites us to reflect on the complexities of marriage, work, and identity, suggesting that even within the intimate sphere of domesticity, women artists found ways to assert their creative selves.