Anna Ancher breastfeeding her daughter

This must be one of the very first paintings Michael Ancher made of his and Anna Ancher's daughter, Helga. Left unsigned, the painting must be regarded as a private piece that was presumably never intended for sale or public display.
The painting has a sketch-like feel, executed in large, loose brushstrokes. Even so, Ancher clearly put effort into the effects of light and shadow, and Anna's neck is built up of many different colours.
Even though the artist has used only very few brushstrokes, decoding the motif is not difficult. Helga has been reduced to a few flesh-coloured brushstrokes, while a few red and white brushstrokes serve to indicate the form of the dress.
The painting can be regarded as an imprint of a particular situation, a fleeting moment, captured by the brush of a husband and father.