Anders Zorn (1860 – 1920) was among the best Swedish painters and impressionists. He was born in Mora, where his grandparents had a farm. During school and college years the painter made a fantastic impression on his teachers when it came to his drawing talent. Before beginning to work with oil paintings, the artist got acquainted with watercolors. To come to prominence and gain an iconic status Anders Zorn traveled to Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and the United States. He became successful in painting portraits.
Every stroke of brush was carefully planned before being laid on the canvas. At first, the painter trained the movement in the air and then masterfully made its realization on the canvas. Anders’ paintings brought him a great deal of money, so he decided to make a collection of his art.
Now the Zorn museum is a museum of fine arts done by Anders Zorn. Besides, there visitors may see watercolors, drawings, work, paintings of the artist. The National Museum of Fine art keeps the most important and brilliant works of Zorn.
Key ideas in painting
The whole of Zorn’s work can be divided into three groups: nudes, portraits, and paintings of naturalistic character. Among the portraits, there are ones of his wife, Grover Cleveland, portraits of himself, and other members of Family.
In his nudes, the artist tended to use the painting technique of plain-air, depicting ladies in front of water and sunlight. His attempts to show the connection between nature and human were successful. With his magic touch, Anders Zorn almost managed to merge females and nature.
Speaking of Anders Zorn, it is necessary to keep in mind the fact about “Zorn palette.” It states that the painter used to limit himself in colors when it came to paintings. The combination of white, ochre, scarlet, and ivory black appeared almost in all his works. Some say that Zorn could not afford more colors, but a limited palette should be treated not as a sign of poverty, but creativity and resource.
Arts made by Anders Zorn
Martha Dana, (1899).
This work is said to be a real masterpiece. A depicted woman is a prototype of the unforgettable lady, called Irene, from “The Forsyte Saga” written by John Galsworthy. A white coloring on her tooth tells accurately about the light and the wet. According to Zorn, there is neither an easy art nor a difficult one. The only thing is that you have to concentrate and get the right color, which often expresses much.
Girls from Dalarna Having a Bath (1906).
This piece of art belongs to the most famous nudes of Anders Zorn. Nudes were not so popular, and people considered them as the most infamous part of Zorn’s work. Here, one may notice a virtuoso painting technique synonymous with Manet’s one.
The Thornbush.
The drawing is done with the help of watercolor, which was Zorn’s first passion. Swedish watercolorist was so talented that he could make a watercolor picture look like an oil painting.
Mrs. Walter Rathbone Bacon (1897).
Painting portraits for Anders Zorn were like taking photographs. People were amazed by the painter’s ability to render the features of the person so confidently and accurately. His portraits were always desirable by the upper crust, even though he got paid a small sum.
