Kitchen interior
The scene of this painting is from the so-called Madam Bendsen’s Cottage in Skagen Vesterby, where the painter Viggo Johansen and his family resided several summers in the 1880’s. The painting shows the artist’s wife Martha arranging flowers in the kitchen. Martha Johansen was the cousin of the painter Anna Ancher, and she and Viggo Johansen had six children. Johansen’s wife, children and their home are recurring themes in his paintings. In this painting, Martha is wearing a dark dress, which harmonizes with the green and blue shades that dominates the room. On the top of the cupboard to the left, is pots and kitchen utensils in brass and copper, which gives contrast to the blue and green shades. Daylight enters the scene from right and highlights the light skin of the woman’s neck. The painting is inspired by paintings by the Dutch 17th century masters, wherein women are often depicted occupied by different domestic chores.
