The pilot is having a cigarette

The Pilot is Having a Cigarette of 1912, now at the Lillehammer Art Museum, is a characteristic example of Krohg's mature figure painting — the casual but attentive observation of a professional man at ease in a moment of private comfort. The harbor pilot was a figure of genuine importance in Norwegian maritime culture, the specialized professional who guided ships through the hazardous coastal waters of the Norwegian fjords and approaches. Krohg had been fascinated by maritime subjects throughout his career, from his early fishermen to his later works depicting sailors and harbor life. By 1912 his handling had become freer and more atmospheric than the tighter Realism of his early career. The cigarette — a modern, trivial pleasure — grounds the figure in everyday contemporary life rather than the heroized labor of nationalist imagery. The Lillehammer Art Museum holds important examples of Norwegian Realist and Impressionist painting.

The mature Krohg works with looser, more atmospheric brushwork than his early academic manner, capturing the figure with direct strokes that convey both material presence and casual ease. The informal composition suits a professional taking a brief rest from demanding coastal work.