Anders Zorn
1860-1920 |
The Self-Portraits of Anders Zorn
The great Swedish master looks into the mirror.
nders Zorn (1860-1920) occupies an enviable place in art history.
His name is invariably included in an illustrious quartet of late
nineteenth-century/early twentieth century masters of the art of
premier coup (direct stroke) oil technique. The four names which
are customarily linked are: John Singer Sargent (American), Joaquin
Sorolla (Spanish), Giovanni Boldini (Italian) and Zorn (Scandinavian).
Legion were (and are) the painters who have attempted this very
difficult and demanding technique, but these four, working contemporaneously,
were the standard-bearers of the discipline in their era.
Zorn's work is always exciting. His draftsmanship is superb. His
brushwork is fresh, direct and animated. His compositions are frequently
unconventional. For the working artist who needs inspiration to
free his hand from hesitation and restraint, Zorn is the perfect
artist to study. Here are four examples of his brilliant work, all
self-portraits:
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4. Self-Portrait in a Fur Coat and Hat, 1915
Everything in a Zorn painting is achieved through a
kind of brushwork/shorthand. The soft texture of the
fur coat is deftly achieved by thin applications of
very fluid paint. The head, (or rather, the light on
the head) is rendered with broad, simple strokes. The
black hat is almost an abstract shape. Note the very
dark cast shadows over the eyes, and the exceptional
darkness of the shadow cast by the head onto the lapel
of the coat.
Oil on canvas,
35 x 23 inches
(90cm x 58.5cm)
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