Peder Severin Kroyer was born on July 23, 1851, in Stavanger, Norway, and raised by his aunt in Copenhagen. At the age of 14, he began attending classes at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Later, between 1877 and 1881, he traveled for study purposes to France, Spain, and Italy and was supported by the Danish art collector and entrepreneur Heinrich Hirschsprung. His trip to Paris particularly influenced his painting, and upon returning to Copenhagen, he gained recognition as a portrait painter.
In 1882, Kroyer visited Skagen for the first time, where he was inspired by the rugged landscape, the sea, the unique light conditions, and the company of other artists. He became a member of the artist colony Skagensmalerne, which flourished in the 1880s. The painters of this artistic association hailed from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, valuing painting in the open air. They were influenced by French Realism and Naturalism. This group included artists such as Frits Thaulow, Michael Peter Ancher, Anna Ancher, Carl Locher, Viggo Johansen, Christian Krohg, Eilif Peterssen, and Laurits Regner Tuxen.
Peder Severin Kroyer became famous for his impressionistic landscape and portrait paintings, depicting the seemingly carefree life of artists, their festivities, strolls on the beach, and atmospheric evenings in the moonlight.
In 1900, the painter suffered from mental illness and was treated several times in a psychiatric hospital. Kroyer passed away in Skagen on November 21, 1909.
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