Anna Ancher reading in the Drawing Room
Helga Ancher’s art has been eclipsed by the works of her famous parents, but in her best works, it is clear that she was particularly inspired by her mother’s method of painting. Helga was taught by her parents initially and was later admitted to the Royal Academy of Art’s school for women in Copenhagen back in 1901. It was only in 1908 that the women’s school became an integrated part of the Academy, and the teaching was combined with that of the male colleagues, with the exception of life drawing classes. This image depicts Anna Ancher reading in the light of a lamp designed by The architect Thorvald Bindesbøll. The lamp still exists, but is no longer in the house. The motif is from the drawing room, and Helga demonstrates a good understanding of light and shadow and has managed to capture her mother absorbed in reading in an intimate moment.
