Marie Martha Kroyer, born Marie Martha Mathilde Triepcke on June 11, 1867, in Frederiksberg, Denmark, was a prominent Danish painter. She is best known for her association with the Skagen Painters, a group of artists who gathered each summer in the northern Danish town of Skagen. Her artistic contributions, though often overshadowed by her more famous husband, Peder Severin Krøyer, remain an integral part of the Danish art scene of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Marie was educated in art in Copenhagen, Paris, and Italy, showcasing her talent and versatility in painting, particularly in portraiture and landscape.
Marie's marriage to P.S. Krøyer in 1889 not only united two talented artists but also immersed her deeper into the Skagen Painters' milieu, where she developed her distinct style. Her works are characterized by a delicate interplay of light and shadow, a hallmark of the Skagen aesthetic, but with a softer, more intimate touch. Despite facing the challenges of a woman artist at the time, Marie managed to carve out her space in the art world, exhibiting in Denmark and abroad. Her marriage, however, was troubled, strained by her husband's mental illness and their eventual separation.
After her separation from Krøyer, Marie married the Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén in 1905, moving to Sweden where she continued her artistic pursuits. Her later works reflect a shift in her life's circumstances, exploring new themes and techniques but always maintaining the sensitivity and elegance that marked her early career. Marie Krøyer's legacy is that of a pioneering woman artist who navigated personal and professional challenges to create a body of work that resonates with the beauty and complexity of the human experience. She died on May 25, 1940, in Sweden, leaving behind a rich portfolio that continues to captivate and inspire.