Peter Hansen (1868–1928)
Shipbuilding in Faaborg, 1915
Oil on canvas

Peter Hansen belongs to the group of Danish artists known as the Funen Painters, which includes artists such as Johannes Larsen (1867–1961) and Fritz Syberg (1862–1939). The group was united by certain common traits: they were all born on Funen, were about the same age, had studied under the painter Kristian Zahrtmann in Copenhagen, and they would occasionally form cohabiting communities at Fynshoved, in Copenhagen, in Faaborg or in Italy. In addition, the Funen Painters introduced a new circle of subject matter in Danish art around the year 1900 – one based on scenes from their everyday lives in the countryside as well as in the cities.¹

Peter Hansen found many motifs around his hometown, Faaborg on South Funen. He admired and had great respect for the hardworking people – those who worked in the fields, on the farms and in ports and harbours. That is why farmhands, ploughmen and dockers are found among the artist’s broad gallery of characters, which also included his own family and close circle of friends. Peter Hansen most often found his models on the spot, and he had a knack for capturing fleeting moments and impressions, for example when he happened to pass by children at play or – as here – shipbuilders working.²

With deft, rapid brushstrokes, Peter Hansen has depicted the four shipbuilders hard at work in the heat of the afternoon sun. They are pulled into the very foreground of the picture, and their body language clearly testifies to the hard toil demanded by their task. With his painting, Peter Hansen wanted to portray common people in an everyday situation. At the same time, Shipbuilding in Faaborg also testifies to the lively environment found at the port of Faaborg, where the shipyards lay side by side, heaving with activity.