“When he faced adversity or frustrations, it always had a stimulating effect on him. He throws himself into his work with seemingly increased abilities, and he always painted his best pictures under such circumstances. There is something great in that.”

As his wife Anna Syberg (1870–1914) described her husband in 1910, Fritz Syberg (1862–1939), reflecting a pivotal moment in his life when he stood on the threshold of a new artistic epoch. Her words capture a period of transition in his career, during which Fritz Syberg navigated multiple artistic phases, each marked by shifts in materials, techniques, themes, and expression.

Fritz Syberg’s life was also shaped by profound personal upheaval. He experienced both the bright moments of life and progress, as well as deep sorrow and tragic events that left lasting emotional scars. As a child, he lost his father, and his mother, after being placed in the poorhouse, passed away while Fritz was still very young. This early grief became a recurring theme in his work, a sorrow he revisited and processed through his art over the course of his life.

Later, after establishing his own family, Fritz Syberg faced the loss of his wife, Anna, leaving him to care for their seven children, the youngest of whom was just nine months old. Despite these hardships, Fritz Syberg possessed a remarkable resilience—a life force that enabled him to rise repeatedly from the unforeseen tragedies that life brought his way. This remarkable journey of survival and artistic perseverance is the focus of the autumn special exhibition, Fritz Syberg – Will to Life!

Educational Project in the Exhibition

Fritz Syberg’s life began at the lowest rung of the social ladder. His father tragically died in a work accident when Fritz was only two years old, and his mother was left to support Fritz and his sister through sewing. Accounts recall Fritz’s memories of his mother working through the night, balancing both her duties and childcare. Sadly, she passed away at the Faaborg poorhouse at the age of 47, a tragic and degrading end. By this time, the young Fritz Syberg had already been contributing to the family’s survival for several years, learning to navigate life independently from an early age—an experience he carried with him throughout his life, even during times of greater prosperity.

This sense of melancholy is deeply embedded in Syberg’s art. One notable example is his illustrations for Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Story of a Mother,” where Syberg reflected his own personal story in the poet’s similar narrative of loss. In contrast, Syberg also produced many works that were full of life and affirmation, depicting family life, closeness, and joy. These include scenes from his home in Svanninge, Pilegaarden in Kerteminde, and especially summers spent at Fyns Hoved, where the Syberg family lived in close harmony with nature.

For Fritz Syberg, art served as a means of processing grief and loss, offering a pathway to understanding the inner self. His work became a vehicle for portraying both the darkness of his past and the light of his future: the childhood home and the security that was lost, as well as the family, home, and communities that he built later in life. Fritz Syberg’s ability to use art to navigate the complexities of life remains a timeless experience, still deeply relevant today.

In line with this, a new and targeted educational program for families will be developed, designed to complement the special exhibition. This project will draw on insights and methodologies from the Cultural Prescription project, integrating studies and experiences to create a meaningful, interactive learning experience for visitors.

Conservation & Conservation Work

In preparation for the exhibition, a collaboration has been established with Bevaringscenter Fyn to analyze and conserve selected works by Fritz Syberg from the Johannes Larsen Museum’s collection. This initiative marks the first time that in-depth research will be conducted into Syberg’s use of materials and techniques. By examining these works, the narrative of Syberg’s artistic evolution, transitions, and resilience will be viewed from a fresh perspective. The selection of works is a result of a collaborative process between conservation and art history, with the shared objective of analyzing a comprehensive range of Syberg’s oeuvre. This will enable an exploration of the distinctive characteristics of each phase of his career, as well as the development of his material choices and techniques.