One glance at our picture shows that there is indeed a remarkable talent at work here. The painting bristles with movement and is sustained by a very intelligent use of colour. Two cyclists are seen as they set out for a morning trip into the countryside, away from the urban confines of the city, probably Copenhagen, visible in the background. They are clearly intimate, as is shown by the way the man puts his hand on the shoulder of the woman.

Henningsen has managed to convey both movement and presence, with the man's hand clenching the handlebar to support himself as the pair set off on their morning ride. The sun throws shadows on their outfits, with the freshness of a beautiful morning dominating the picture. We do not know who the couple are, but the painting was exhibited under the title "Youth" (Ungdom) in 1930, suggesting that Henningsen wished to convey young people's eternal striving for freedom. The cap that is worn by the man may well indicate membership of a student fraternity.

Henningsen concentrated throughout his career on depicting "real life", sometimes showing the fate of the destitute, or, as in our case, seemingly ordinary people as they go about their activities.

Erik Henningsen was born in Copenhagen in 1855, where he also died in 1930. He received his formal training at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he enrolled in 1873. He earned a living as an illustrator as well as a painter and earned several medals. Although he travelled to France and The Netherlands, he always returned to his favourite subject: life in Danish society around the turn of the 19th century. Today, his work can be seen in many of Denmark’s museums.