Anna Ancher's 1899 Painting 'A Vaccination' Gains Contemporary Relevance
In 1899, Anna Kirstine Ancher created 'A Vaccination,' depicting a doctor administering a smallpox vaccine to a child in Skagen. The artwork was first showcased at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition and had already been acquired by a Swedish match manufacturer prior to the event. Born in 1859, Ancher attended Copenhagen's painting school for women and wed fellow artist Michael Ancher in 1880. The piece features several figures and employs windows for light, a signature aspect of her style. Since 2013, it has been housed in Skagen Museum. A retrospective from 2020-2021 highlighted it in the 'Community' section, receiving acclaim for its colors and craftsmanship. This painting is unique, as Ancher never depicted another medical theme, reflecting the European vaccination interest that began in Denmark in 1810.
Key facts
- Anna Ancher painted 'A Vaccination' in 1899.
- It was exhibited at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in 1899.
- The painting sold before exhibition to a Swedish match manufacturer's private collection.
- Since 2013, it has been on display at Skagen Museum in Denmark.
- Ancher was born in 1859 in Skagen and died there in 1935.
- She studied at the school of painting for women in Copenhagen.
- A 2020-2021 retrospective included the painting at museums in Copenhagen, Skagen, and Lillehammer.
- The painting depicts a smallpox vaccination scene with multiple figures and uses windows for light.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Kirstine Ancher
- Michael Ancher
- Edward Jenner
- Ernest Board
Institutions
- Charlottenborg
- Skagen Museum
- Statens Museum for Kunst
- Skagens Museum
- Lillehammer Kunstmuseum
- Wellcome Collection
Locations
- Skagen
- Denmark
- Copenhagen
- Sweden
- Lillehammer
- Norway
- London
- United Kingdom