Anders Leonard Zorn

description

A famous Swedish painter, graphic artist and sculptor, Zorn was a popular portrait painter. His paintings were ordered by famous politicians, artists and businessmen. The artist worked a lot with watercolor, enjoyed etching. Zorn’s creations – portraits, landscapes and engravings – are full of strength and freshness, excellent air and light transmission, simplicity and, at the same time, special dignity and nobility. The artist had a great influence on the development of Russian art.

Key ideas:

– The work of Andres Zorn has a special, inimitable style that is distinguished by great courage and integrity of vision. The use of a wide brush and a minimum number of colors makes his work related to impressionism. A large role is played by light, which also makes it similar to canvases of French masters: Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas.

– The artist worked a lot with the naked female body, boldly depicting forms with a broad brushstroke. The artist’s etchings are made in an original manner. They attract your eye by the rich play of light and shadow, the virtuoso transmission of the moment that is taking place. The virtuous hatching of Zorn helped him convey the depicted motive in dynamics.

– Deep insight into the character of the model, the ability to notice something peculiar in each person, makes Zorn one of the most popular portrait painters of his time. The artist worked in a free, virtuosic manner, effectively combining the authenticity of the realism of the old school and the fresh vision of the Impressionists.

– A special place in the master’s work is occupied by scenes from the life of Swedish peasants, the image of simple entertainment, fairs, and dances. The heroes of Zorn’s canvases are rural girls in everyday situations: soaring in a bath, bathing in a river, or simply posing with pleasure to the artist. They are distinguished by their incredible vitality, natural energy and national character.

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1860

1875

1880

1881

1887 - 1888

1888

1889

1896

1897

1919

1920

The birth of the artist

He was bas born on February 18 into a peasant family on a farm near the small Swedish town of Mora. The artist’s mother was not married to his father. Andres lived on his parents’ farm.

Moved to Stockholm

Moved to Stockholm and entered the Royal Academy of Arts, where he studied sculpture, and later graphics and painting.

The first success of the artist

The first success of the artist. The watercolor painting “In mourning”, presented at the student exhibition, attracted the attention of art critics and the public. Thanks to this, Zorn had rich portrait buyers; he was able to earn a living.

He got engaged to Emma Lamm

He went abroad, where he spent four next years, mostly in England and Spain. There he received international recognition as a portrait painter. In the same year, he got engaged to Emma Lamm – a girl from a rich Jewish family, whose portrait he painted.

“Fisherman”

Being in England, he decided to switch over to the technique of oil painting. One of the first such works (the painting “Fisherman”, 1888), exhibited at the Paris Salon, was purchased by the French government.

Settled in Paris

Settled in Paris, where he improved his knowledge and painting technique. The artist traveled a lot to the USA, Russia, Turkey, Morocco and Eastern Europe, not forgetting to regularly return to his homeland.

At the World Exhibition in Paris, the artist was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor

At the World Exhibition in Paris, the artist was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Settled in the town of Mora

Settled in the town of Mora, which he left only occasionally, till the very end of his life. In this town, he founded the Higher School for peasants and constantly subsidized it.