The painting is a study for a painting at The Art Museums of Skagen (Inv. No. 1143) and no. 196 in Lise Svanholm, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of Laurits Tuxen, 1990.

In the summer of 1879, Laurits Tuxen went to Jutland and visited Nymindegab, a small fishing village north west of Varde. Here, he became captivated by the life surrounding the fishing activities during the early months of the year, when the fish were brought ashore and processed by the local fishing community.

In a letter to his parents dated June 25, he writes, among other things, about the train oil boiling (in Danish): “It is a custom that in the last days before departure train oil is boiled from all the cod livers, and this is the girls' business, as well as their profit. Up on a dune a fireplace is set up, on which 4–5 large pots are placed. A strong old woman stood at the helm, while young girls carried out the orders; The surroundings and the heavy smoke made it very picturesque, and I spent the whole day painting”. (Laurits Tuxen, “En Malers Arbejde gennem Tyve Aar fortalt af ham selv”, 1928 p. 266).

This particular atmosphere is also present in the current painting, executed in 1881, during Tuxen’s return to Nymindegab. Once again captivated by the subject of train oil boiling, he produced this work along with several others exploring the daily labours of the local fishermen.