Three Smiths at Hornbæk, Denmark

Though born in Norway, P.S. Krøyer spent his adult and professional life in Denmark following tutelage at Copenhagen’s Technical Institute and later the Royal Danish Academy of Art. He was quite active in a group of Danish and Nordic artists known as the Skagen Painters, becoming one of the most renowned and respected members. The group would gather in the summer to paint the local surroundings.

Best known for his peaceful landscapes and recreational scenes, Krøyer was also captivated by scenes of labor and industry. Three Smiths at Hornbæk, Denmark records the master blacksmith in the Danish town of Hornbæk. The master is working with a journeyman and an apprentice. The master holds a horseshoe bar in his tongs. The impact of the sledge on the hammer creates sparks as it punches nail holes in the bar. The apprentice operates the bellows observing the forging process performed by the two skilled men.

In 1875 Krøyer produced another version of this forging scene. It is part of the Hirschsprung Collection in Copenhagen. The Hirschsprung contacted the Grohmann Museum in 2012 regarding this “lost twin” and confirmed that they have the companion piece. While they would like to reunite these works by one of Copenhagen’s favorite sons, the painting will remain a centerpiece of our blacksmith gallery.