Portrait of the Artist´s Father, Master Baker Peter Berendt Købke 1833 - 1837

Christen Købke’s “Portrait of the Artist’s Father, Master Baker Peter Berendt Købke” (1833-1837), showcases the Danish artist's masterful skill in capturing realism. The oil-on-canvas portrait, now housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts the artist's father, a master baker, with a keen attention to detail. The composition, featuring a simple, dark background, allows the viewer to focus on the subject's face, hands, and the textured fabric of his coat. Købke’s work reveals a deep understanding of light and shadow, emphasizing the father's features in a way that suggests both strength and kindness. This piece, though modest in size, is considered an important example of Købke's early portraiture.