Michael Ancher (1849-1927) depicts a group of fishermen from Skagen chatting on the beach on a sunny summer evening. Perhaps they are exchanging news from Skagen, or planning their next fishing expedition? The fishermen all had names because Ancher painted them and allowed them to come to life as everyday heroes. Michael Ancher was the first of the Skagen painters to settle in Skagen during the summer. He was a realist who always used living models, preferably fishermen. The heavily-lined faces of these simple, worthy and hard-working fishermen were well suited to be portrayed by a realist like Michael Ancher. Author: Lisbeth Bonde, M.A and art critic. Photographer: Torben Eskerod. On loan from the National Gallery of Denmark, the painting is exhibited in the Danish Parliament