Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909) "To Skagensdrenge" (1892)

Peder Severin Krøyer (Danish, 1851-1909) 
"To Skagensdrenge" ("Two boys from Skagen"), 1892
Lithographic print in colours
Signed and dated within the print "P. S. Krøyer  / Skagen 92"
Framed

Measures:-
28 cm x 35.5 cm (print)
33.5 cm x 41.4 cm (framed)

Provenance:-
Retains its original frame and backboard with gallery label verso for Frederik Jorgensens

A scarce print after Peder Severin Krøyer which was originally circulated with the celebrated Scandinavian Christmas magazine 'Juleroser' in the 1890's.

Krøyer is one of Denmark's most famous artists. He was the leading member of the artistic community which was based in the Danish coastal town on Skagen, a group which became known as the "Skagen Painters". Many of the images which Kroyer painted around this artists' colony are considered to be amongst his masterpieces. Perhaps the most famous being "Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach" ("Sommeraften på Skagen Sønderstrand"), in Skagens Museum, Denmark.

The image here depicts two boys whose portraits appear over the years in other works by the artist at various stages of their childhood. The smaller boy on the right was certainly painted by Kroyer in "Hoved af en dreng" ("Head of a Boy"), dated 1899, which appeared as Lot 187 in Bruun Rasmussen Auctions, Copenhagen, 28th May 2019 (Live Auction 886) (sold for DKK110,000 (GBP13,000)).

Condition:-
Unexamined out of the frame. Commensurate with age. Print has various faults: paper has yellowed with time, typical of lithographs of this period printed on this type of paper stock. Fritting and tears to the extremities of the print within the frame notably a closed tear to the right of the larger boy's head. Various folds and wrinkles across the sheet and a crease which extends from the left hand side of the sheet across the forehead of the larger boy and over the head of the smaller, redheaded child towards the top right of the frame (see images). In bright raking sunlight/spotlights faults are evident but not visible in normal diffuse room light.